No. III.] EFFRCTS OF SULPHATE AND NITRATE OF SODA. 23 



appeared to be little, if any, difference from the general crop (it has not yet been 

 thrashed.) Next, 3 ridges were sown with nitrate of soda, at the rate of SO lbs. 

 per acre. This made a little alteration both in colour and strength, but it was 

 too little to make a very decided difference. Also, alongside of the last-men- 

 tioned, a piece was dressed with a mixture of suiphate and nitrate of soda, in the 

 f>roportion of frds of the former to ^rd of the latter. This immediately took the 

 ead of the others both in colour and strength, so much so, that by iMay 27th it 

 could be seen from a distance. Many examinations were made of them all 

 during the season, and this always appeared the best. A few days before it was 

 cut, it sliowed the largest and best filled ear. There was a piece of yellow-col- 

 oured earth at the bottom of the fi(.'l;l, showing t!ie presence of iron, upon which 

 was sown potash and lime. The plant was yellow and sickly-looking, but im- 

 mediately after the application it acquired a dark green colour, and became vi- 

 gorous, and yielded a crop at least equal to any in the field. There were some 

 other dressings put on other ridges of this field, but it was dry weather directly 

 after they were sown, and the crop was too far forward before they began to take 

 effect to say any thing decided about them. By mistake t'lere were two varie- 

 ties of oats sown upon the fielJ, which prevented the experiments being so de- 

 cided, as the dressings were put on indiscriminately upon the land before it was 

 known." 



Rrmauks. — The only remark I need make upon these experiments is. to sug- 

 gest to my readers that, by repeating the above trials upon oats with Mr. Flem- 

 ing's mixtures, they may not only benefit their own crops, but may also aid 

 materially in the. advancement of practical agricultural knowledge. 



7. — On the effect of Sulphate of Soda applied as a top-dressing to Beans and Peas. 



" The first dressing was applied the 4th of May, on .-^o.me beans on a border 

 in the garden ; the drills that were dressed quickly took the lead of the others. 

 There was no alteration of colour, but greater strength, and it tillered v:onder- 

 fullij. There were five or six stems from every seed sown, and the pods were 

 larger and more numerous, and the beans in the pods a great deal larger than 

 the same variety undressed. It was also put upon some of the ridges of the 

 beans in the field, and with the same effect, and gave a very large crop (not yet 

 thrashed.) 



" Upon peas in the garden it appeared to add little, if any thing, to the strength 

 of straw, but those that were dressed had a far greater number of pods, and those 

 better filled, and the peas of a better flavour, and it seems a valuable dressing for 

 all Icgunmious crops. When sown in the drills along with the peas, it nearly 

 killed every on& of them, while the same quantity, put on as a top-dressing to 

 some drills next to them (where the peas were tv/o inches high,) did no injuiy. 



REMARKS. — The testimony of Mr. Fleming to the value of sulphate of soda 

 as a dressing for leguminous crops, is very valuable and satisfactory. We may- 

 hope that next year will furnish us with experiments, all the results of which 

 shall have been so carefully ascertained, as to enable us to decide upon the eco- 

 nomical value of this sulphate as a manure, by a comparison of the amount of 

 increase in the crop, with the cost of the application. 



8. — On, Nitrate of Soda as a top -dressing to Gooseherrtj and Currant flushes. 



" It was applied April 14th, at about the rate of ^ cwt. per acre, or \ lb. per 

 bush. It had the effect, in the course of a week, of producing on the bushes a 

 dark green colour and broader leaves, and the fruit set better and more plentiful-; 

 ly, especially on some red currants that had borne little for two years. These 

 set their fruit well, and yielded double their former produce. The dressed bushes 

 kept the lead in strength and vigour all the season, and now, when the undressed 

 bushes have lost their leaves, the others are quite green." 



9. — " Many experiments were tried in the garden on turnips, by top-dressing 

 with nitrate of soda, but with no perceptible effect. However, the Swedish, and 



