1.108 



ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AGRICULTURE. 



SUPPLEMENT. 



cwt., or 90 stones, worth, as above. 3/. : 1 12 Ibs. of nitrate of soda, which cost II 2*., gave 12 cwt., or 

 ics additional produce. The same quantity of sulphate of soda, which cost 20s , gave 6 cwt ' or 

 30 stones. 



In i similar set of experiments made at F.rskine. the property of Lord Blantyre, near Glasgow, with a 

 variety of substances applied also as a top-dressing to clover and rye-gran hay, partly on light and partly 

 on clay soil, favourable results were obtained, especially on the' light land, [20 lb. of nitrate of soda 

 having given ID Increase Of one ton of bay per Imperial acre ; the same quantity of saltpetre or nitrate 

 of potash gave 10J cwt. The effect, however, on the clay land was less in every instance, 10 cwt. In ing 

 the greatest additional weight of produce obtained, and that from nitrate of potash. Nitrate of soda 

 \ lelded 9 cwt. I qr. 12 lbs., being rather less than hall the quantity obtained from its application to light 

 lands, 



Mr. Fleming, of Barochan, obtained also nearly equally favourable results from the application of 

 nitrate and sulphate of soda to clover and rye-grass hay ; though he seems to have applied the latter in 

 only half the quantity suggested by Professor Johnston : IliO lbs. nitrate of soda gave 1 ton of additional 

 hay per imperial acre, and the same quantity of sulphate of soda about 8 cwt. only. 



Mr. Fleming gives also a tabular view of experiments on a field of wheat with a considerable variety 

 of manures, on which Mr. Johnston makes the following remarks: — " This table presents U6 with two 

 remarkable results ; that obtained by the use of common salt, and that from a mixture of soda and rape- 

 dust. Thus, exclusive of the straw, 



•' Nitrate of soda alone gave 152 lbs. of wheat for 31s., or 12s. 2d. per bushel. 



•• Nitrate with rape-dust gave -100 Ibs. of wheat for 43s. 6Vf., or (Is. 'Jd. per bushel. 



" Common salt gave 472 lbs. of wheat for 3s. 6rf., or 6rf. per bushel 



" The increased produce by the use of common salt is by far the most valuable result to Mr. Fleming, 

 in an economical point of view, and plainly indicates the kind of application he can most profitably make 

 to his wheat crop*, at least on land similar to the above, and in the district where he resides. 



" Neither the nitrate of soda, nor the mixture of this salt with rape-dust, gave such an increase as to 

 repay their own cost, unless when corn is very high. It is interesting, however, to observe, that the 

 mixture with rape-dust gave so large an increase, though the value of this particular experiment is 

 lessened by the absence of any trial with rape-dust alone, bv which the effect of each of the ingredients 

 ought to be judged of. I have reckoned the rape-dust at 71. a ton, so that 5 cwt. would cost 28s. ; and 

 we know that a top-dressing of this substance alone, in a somewhat larger quantity, gives a remunerating 

 return in many of our wheat lands." 



Mr. Fleming's experiments on oats, potatoes, &c. afford equally interesting results, and are deserving 

 of the attention of all who feel an interest in agriculture ; but I shall confine myself at present to that 

 made on early potatoes in 1841, which cannot be more clearly or shortly stated" than in Mr. Fleming's 

 own words. 



" All were dunged in the usual manner with farm-yard manure, at the rate of about 30 cubic yards 

 per acre. The potatoes were all planted on the 25th of March, on the same heavy black sail. 'The 

 several dressings were applied on the 20th of May, and the potatoes were all lilted on the 28th of Sep- 

 tember. 



Note — The peck is 35 lbs. weight, and 16 make a boll, or 5 cwt 



" This break of ground consists of a piece of poor clay, mixed with moss, about inches deep; subsoil 

 a very stiff blue till. The dung was old from the farm-yard, about the ordinary quantity (30 cubic yards 

 per acre), spread upon the land and dug in. The potatoes were drilled in with the hoe ; as the ground 

 was wet, the plants came up but weak. The nitrate of soda was sown before the other top-dressings, 

 and had remarkably quick effect, as it showed the third night after being sown. The sulphate of soda 

 does not occasion the dark green colour which is seen upon the potato after the dressing of the nitrate ; 

 but there is not the smallest doubt of its beneficial effects, although not in so great a degree as the 

 nitrate. The mixture, which is composed of Iwo-thirds of sulphate of soda and one-third of nitrate, 

 has a wonderful effect in strengthening the growth (which it keeps longer than with nitrate alone), and 

 the mixture has the same effect in producing the dark green colour as the nitrate alone." 



Professor Johnston, in remarking on this and similar experiments furnished by Mr. Fleming's 

 gardener, observes : " Those who are the most sceptical in regard to the benefits to" be derived from 

 agricultural experiments, when well conducted, will scarcely question the importance of this result ; 

 the most hackward in making experiments will be anxious to repeat this upon his own potatoes. The 

 cost of the mixture to be applied, in the quantity used by Mr. Fleming, is as follows : 



Sulphate of soda, 75 lbs. dry, at 10s. per cwt., or 150 lbs. in crystals, at 5s. - - -069 



Nitrate of soda, 75 lbs. at 22s. - - - . . . . . -0 14 9 



£1 1 6 



"1 he return for this 21s. 6rf. was in each of the above cases upwards of 8 tons of potatoes." 



Though the number of experiments made, and inferences which can be safely deduced from them, are 

 far too scanty to admit of our feeling confident of success, vet it may perhaps be admitted, that they are 

 such as to hold out sufficient encouragement for further prosecuting the inquiry. 



This, I apprehend, can only be successfully done by the united efforts of the practical and chemical 

 agriculturists; the former by instituting and carefully conducting experiments on a systematic plan; 

 lii- litter by tracing the facts so obtained to the laws of nature on which they depend, and the progress 

 will, in all probability, be in proportion to the number of practical men who can be induced to engage in 

 nniking the experiment* with precision and accuracy. It would be advantageous, I apprehend, in all 

 cases to analyse the soil to be experimented on ; and' to ascertain by weight the kind and quantity of the 

 material to be applied, as well as the quantity and quality of the produce obtained from the app'li ation 

 of each description of manure. This, however, is an inquiry which cannot be successfully prosecuted by 

 a few individuals, nor can satisfactory results be obtained from a small number of experiments. 

 Diversity of soil, climate, situation, season, and a variety of other circumstances, combine to throw 

 doubts on results so obtained, however carefully conducted. But this should not deter us from prose- 

 cuting the inquiry ; on the contrary, it is an additional reason for all who have it in their power, whether 

 owner or occupier, contributing their share." 



Mr. Oliver concludes: " Assuming, then, that the object in view is of sufficient importance to merit 

 the attention of this Society, and that the few experiments which have already been instituted hold out 

 null. H in encouragement for expecting a successful result, I trust I shall neither be considered pre- 



