viii.] LOSSES TO SOIL IN DRAINAGE WATERS 263 



dry the soil as to reduce nitrification considerably. The 

 following table shows the estimated loss of nitrates 

 from the same wheat plots at Rothamsted as have 

 previously been dealt with, during two years, each of 

 which has been divided into two periods : firstly, from 

 the date at which the nitrogenous manures were sown up 

 to harvest ; and secondly, from harvest round again to 

 the sowing of manures in spring. 



Nitric Nitrogen in Drainage Water. Lbs. per Acre. 



The diagram (Fig. 16) shows the same results in a 

 graphic form. 



The seasons were rather exceptional, the summer 

 rainfall and drainage in 1879 and the winter rainfall in 

 the following year being both above the average. It 

 will be seen that except on the autumn manured plot 

 15, the loss was greatest from plot 9 receiving 550 lbs. 

 of nitrate of soda, and this excess of loss was chiefly in 



