OF WHEAT, BARLEY, AND OATS. 



l^AppendiXf 



of equal area, say half an acre, should be measured off— one of which should be 

 undressed for the purpose of comparison : thus — 



As before, the nature of the soil and the kind of 

 grain must be recorded — the appearance of each patch 

 noted week by week — with the time of ripening and 

 reaping — and the respective qualities and weights of 

 the grain and straw collected from each half acre. 



The quantity of gluten contained in the wheat 

 should also be determined, or a sample of the flour 

 transmitted for the purpose to the writer of these sug- 

 gestions, accompanied by a detail of the experiments they eu-e intended to 

 illustrate. 



B. — Of Barley and Oats. 

 To barley and oats the above remarks all apply, with this difference, that to 

 these crops saltpetre is said to be less beneficial than the nitrate of soda. In 

 connection with these crops, however, I would make the following additional 

 observation. 



According to any theory of the action of the nitrates of potash and soda 

 which readily presents itself, their effect on any crop which they are equally 

 capable of benefitting ought to be nearly equal, weight for weight. The nitrate 

 of soda ought to have a decidedly more powerful action, were it not that the 

 state of moisture in which it is generally sold, increases its weight so much as 

 in a great measure to deprive it, in equal weights, of this superiority. 



But while 1 cwt. of saltpetre (nitrate of potash) is recommended as a suffi- 

 cient dressing for an acre, 1| to 1^ cwt. of nitrate of soda is recommended for 

 an equal area. It would, therefore, be desirable where nitrate of soda is applied 

 to any large extent of land, either with oats or barley, to make a comparative 

 trial on three equal portions of the same field, with 1, li, and IJ cwt. per acre, 

 respectively. 



In addition, therefore, to the experiments suggested in regard to wheat, with 

 the view of determining — 



1°. The absolute and relative efficacy of saltpetre and nitrate of soda on dif- 

 ferent varieties of the grain ; 



2°. The same on different varieties of soil ; 



3°. And under diversities of management, — as in tlie previous treatment of 

 the land, &c. ; 



There may be added, in regard to oats and barley, another series of trial to 

 determine — 



4°. Tha relative effects of the different proportions of the nitrate of soda, 

 which is at present supposed to be specially beneficial to these kinds of grain. 

 If any one be desirous of uniting this latter series with the fonner, it may be 

 done thus — 



The vacant half-acre being as before left 

 for the purpose of comparison. Such an 

 entire series might be made at the same 

 time on a field of Tartary and of potatoe 

 oats, and on two or more varieties of bar- 

 ley. 



These top-dressings may all be sown 

 broad-cast — on the wheat most convenient- 

 ly when the seeds are sown in April or May, and on the barley and oats when 

 the fields have become distinctly green. 



I may be permitted to add, as inducements to practical men, to try one or 

 more of these experiments in the accurate manner above described: 



1°. That the result will be directly available and of immediate practical vedue 

 on his own farm, to the person by whom they are carefully made. That they 



