EFFECT ON WINTER RYE AND OATS. 



3C7 



In Berkshire, on the other hand, it failed (1839), for barley on the 

 light lands, causing them in some cases to be burned up (Mr. Pusey), 

 but the season was droughty. 



III. — On Winter Rye. 



Mr. Fleming, of Barochan, applied 160 lbs. per acre to rye, upon a 

 strong clay, after potatoes, and obtained — 



Undressed. /Dressed. 



Grain . , 14 bushels. . . 26 bushels.- 



Straw . , 1 ton 7^ cwt. . . 2 tons, 19i cwt. 



IV. — Upon Oats. 



Mr. Everett, in Norfolk, obtained an increase of 15 bushels per acre, 

 by the use of | cwt. per acre ; and Mr. Calvert, of Ockley Court, of 20 

 bushels of grain, and 9i cwt. of straw, by applying 1^ cwt. of nitrate 

 of soda. At Kirkleatham (North Yorkshire), it had an excellent effect 

 upon oats, on strong land — and on the strong clays of the Weald of Sur- 

 rey and Sussex, it is said by Mr. Dewdney, of Dorking, to be universally 

 beneficial, particularly when sown on ley ground — paying the grower 

 27s. to 30s. per acre. " When it has failed, the nitrate has been sown 

 early, and when the land was in a dry state. In these instances the 

 crop was more or less blighted." On the other hand, Mr. Barclay 

 states that, on his strong heavy land (plastic clay), near the edge of the 

 chalk, in Surrey, it gave no profit. 



In most cases, therefore, the nitrate of soda seems capable of pro- 

 ducing a large increase in the oat crop^the few failures which are noted 

 must be due either to the state of the weather or to some peculiarities in 

 the physical condition or chemical constitution of the soils on which they 

 were observed. 



