be impaired, hence the advantage of dividing the amount is ^0°^ ^^^ 



apparent, as, if the season is good and the growth normal, ^"^^ 



the second application may be dispensed w^ith. Where the ^39 



soil is liable to be deficient in minerals, and this is often the 



case, the Nitrate may be mixed w^ith other materials, as 



recommended for hay, the excess of minerals not used for the 



wheat providing for the following crop. 



The three experiments with rye in 1894 _. 



confirm the conclusions reached in both 



the experiment on hay and wheat, that Nitrate of Soda as a 



top-dressing proves desirable in effectually increasing the < 



yield of both grain and straw, and which is accomplished at a 



profit. The average yield of crops without top-dressing 



ranged from 9.3 to 15.4 bushels of grain, and the increase 



from the application of 100 pounds of Nitrate of Soda 



ranged from 21 to 37 per cent, for grain, and from 33.5 to ^y 



for straw, or an average increase of 28.5 per cent, for grain 



and 35.7 for straw. The yield obtained without top-dressing 



is not so large as in the case of the wheat, nor is the increase 



proportionately as large, due undoubtedly to the fact that 



the rye is usually grown on poorer land than wheat, and that 



only 100 pounds are used, though this small amount is 



recommended because of the relatively lower price of grain. 



Applying this percentage increase, however, to the average 



yields, as shown by the States mentioned, namely, fifteen 



bushels of rye, and i,8oo.pounds of straw per acre, we have a 



gain of 4.28 bushels of grain and 603 pounds of straw. At 



sixty cents per bushel for the grain, and $12 per ton for the 



straw, the gain is ^6. 1 8, or a net profit from the use of Nitrate 



of Soda of ^3.93 per acre, a very handsome return for the 



investment. The suggestions as to thie amount and time 



to apply are practically the same as for the wheat and hay, 



though, owing to the fact that the straw is relatively more 



valuable than the grain, the larger applications may be made 



for the rye than for wheat, as an abnormal increase in the 



proportion of straw would not result in lowering the total 



value of the crop. 



At this Station during the years 1800 to _, . , 



1002 seven experiments were conducted .^, _, 



■ L M- 1 • r with Forage 



with iNitrate as a top-dressing on forage „ ** 



crops, the Nitrate being used in addition ^ 



to the manures and fertilizers generally used, and the follow- 



