ENGLISH AGRICULTURE. 175 



show an effect of 44 J cwt., which is striking, and well illus- 

 trates the effect of mixed mineral pabulum upon a crop like 

 hay, which is cut green, and removes a vast amount of earths 

 and alkalies from the soil. Another similarly treated plot 

 has yielded an average of 48 f cwt. per acre. 



Now look at the effects of nitrogenous dressings alone. The 

 effect of nitrate of soda is (as is also the case in wheat and 

 mangel cultivation) much greater than that of ammonia 

 salts. Two hundred and seventy-five pounds per acre of 

 nitrate of soda applied annually sends the yield up to 40| 

 cwt. per acre, while 400 Ibs. of ammonia salts preserves an 

 average of 30 cwt., or but slightly above the superphosphate 

 and the mixed minerals. Two hundred and seventy-five 

 pounds of nitrate of soda with 3J cwt. of superphosphate 

 raised the yield to 49 cwt., while 400 Ibs. of ammonia salts 

 and 3J cwt. superphosphate only gave 42J cwt., still showing 

 the superiority of nitrate of soda for this crop. 



The finest results are, however, obtained when a mixture 

 of mineral and nitrogenous manures are applied. The 

 mixture consists of 



500 Ibs. of sulphate of potash 

 100 Ibs. of sulphate of soda 

 100 Ibs. of sulphate of magnesia 

 392 Ibs. of superphosphate 

 400 Ibs. of silicate of soda 

 600 Ibs. of ammonia salts 





Total 2092 Ibs. 



This heavy dressing has resulted in an annual average of 

 88J cwt. of hay per acre. That the silicate of soda has an 

 effect is evidenced by the yield of a corresponding plot in 

 which the silicate is omitted, and in that case the yield per 

 acre is only 77^ cwt. The effect of the dressings employed 

 in gradually effecting a complete change in the proportions 



