The Permanent Nitrate Committee have also made a grant of 

 2000 (50500 frcs). The Society for extending the Rothamsted Ex- 

 periments founded in 1904 has collected donations amounting to 500 

 (12625 frcs) and annual subscriptions of nearly 150 (3787 francs). 

 The field experiments which began in 1843 have on some of the 

 plots been continued without break or alteration up to the present day. 

 In 1852 the Barley experiments on the Hoos Field began. The 

 leguminous crops on the Hoos Field were started in 1848. The 

 experiments on roots have been continued on the same field since 

 1843 and on the same plan since 1853. The grass plots began in 

 1856 and the rotation experiments in 1848. 



It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of continuing the 

 experimental plots at Rothamsted without any change, as nowhere 

 else in the world do such data exist for studying the effect of sea- 

 son and manuring upon the yield and quality of the crop, and for 

 watching the progressive changes which are going on in the soil. 

 Year by year these plots are found to throw light upon new pro- 

 blems in Agricultural Science; in all directions they continue to 

 provide material for investigations upon points which were not 

 contemplated in the original design of the experiments, so that it 

 is impossible to foresee when and how they will not become useful 

 and provide indispensable material for the solution of problems un- 

 dreamt of at the present time. 



The maintenance, however, of the old data throws a heavy burden 

 upon the' Experimental Station. There are 210 plots, and every 

 year 243 samples have to be taken with proper precautions and 

 put into store for future reference. In addition there are made 

 486 determinations of dry matter, 234 of ash, 170 of nitrogen, 50 of 

 phosphoric acid, and 24 of potash, also 180 determinations of ni- 

 trates, etc., in rain and drainage waters, and 17 botanical analyses 

 of hay. This does not include examinations of soils, the complete 

 grass separations, and other extensive series of determinations which 

 are made at longer intervals. All the above determinations however 

 are part of the necessary routine which must be completed before 

 any new investigations can be undertaken. 



During 1909 the yield of wheat was generally below the average 

 and that of straw was high. The quality of the grain was also 

 poor, as shown by the very low weight per bushel, because of in- 

 sufficient warmth during the ripening period. 



The unmanured and partially manured plots suffered most from 

 the season. On the unmanured plot (66th successive crop, no ma- 



