Food for increasing the yield of both grain and straw, and which 

 is accomplished at a profit. The average yield of crops 



68 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 37 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 rela- 

 tively 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 1,800 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 $6.18, 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 the 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, larger applications may be made for 

 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 

 Experiments 1899 to 19 Q2 seV en experiments were 



Cro h s F ° rage conducted with Nitrate as a top-dress- 



ing on forage crops, the Nitrate being 

 used in addition to the manures and fertilizers generally 

 used, and the following tabulations show the yield and 

 gain per acre obtained. It will be observed that in all 

 cases a very marked increase, due to the application 

 of Nitrate, occurred on all crops except the barley, 

 which, owing to unfavorable weather conditions, did 

 not make a large yield. Applying this percentage 

 increase to what has been shown to be average yields 

 of these crops without Nitrate, we have the follow- 



