3. Wheat. Food for 

 For every 100 parts Straw there were harvested: Plants 



Without nitrogenous fertilizing 46 parts Grain ^ 



Fertilized with Nitrate of Soda 57 " " 



Fertilized with Sulphate of Ammonia 58 " 



4. Rye. 



For every 100 parts Straw there were harvested: 



Without nitrogenous fertilizing 46 parts Grain 



Fertilized with Nitrate of Soda 52 " 



Fertilized with Sulphate of Ammonia 50 " 



On the average, therefore, with a dressing of Nitrate of 

 Soda, there was produced for every 100 parts straw not only 

 not less, but even somewhat more grain than without the 

 dressing of Nitrate of Soda ; and in the case of no cereal crop 

 has the sulphate of ammonia dressing had a more favorable 

 action on the proportion of straw to grain than the dressing 

 of Nitrate of Soda. There can be no question of a particular 

 action of Nitrate of Soda on the development of the plants 

 in straw and leaves unfavorable to the production of grain. 

 Such action does not exist. If cases occur, in which the yield 

 of grain, or the yield of roots has remained behind relatively 

 to the development of straw and leaves, in all such cases the 

 cause is to be sought in an excessive dressing or in unfavor- 

 able weather; in too heavy seeding; in too close spacing of 

 the plants; or, in the fact that the nitrogen has been applied 

 at the wrong time, but in no case is it to be found in any 

 special influence on the leaf development inherent in the Ni- 

 trate of Soda itself. In order that this may impress itself 

 on you firmly and convincingly, I will show you yet another 

 picture. 



The results of experiments that have been obtained in 

 the growing of wheat, carrots, sugar beets and mangolds, 

 have also shown it to be untrue that fertilizing with Nitrate 

 of Soda itself encourages the development of straw and 

 leaves more than it favors the development of grain and 

 roots. If cases of this sort occur, then the cause is as al- 

 ready pointed out, and not due to the Nitrate of Soda. 



The Importance of Fertilizing with Nitrogen. 



Of the importance of fertilizing with nitrogen there is 

 no question, but do not misunderstand the question and think 

 that everything depends upon fertilizing with nitrogen, and 



