239 



Experiments with Wheat. Journal Board of Agriculture, May 

 1909, London, p. 150. 



" Continuous Growing of Wheat, 1908 (Journal of Roy . Agric. Soc., 

 vol. 69, 1908). After 30 years' continuous experimenting with wheat 

 and barley (1877-1906) at Woburn, certain changes in the plan of 

 manuring were introduced in 1907, and the effect was expected to 

 be manifested for the first time in 1908. One plot received 5 tons 

 13 cwt. farmyard manure per acre, this being the equivalent of 

 100 Ib. ammonia per acre, and other plots received various mineral 

 manures. *' Square Head's Master " was drilled at the rate of 2 x / 4 

 bus. per acre. One plot received rape-dust (23 Ib. ammonia) on 

 February 21 st, and nitrogenous top-dressings were given to various 

 plots in early May and early June. The wheat came into ear by 

 June 1 9th and most was cut on August nth, all being carted and 

 stacked by August 26th. 



On the whole, the wheat yield was a good one, the unmanured 

 produce being 12 f / 2 DUS P er acre, or nearly 2 bus. above the ave- 

 rage of the last 10 years. The highest yield (28 r / 2 bus.) was with 

 minerals (superphosphate, 3 cwt. and sulphate of potash r / 2 cwt.) 

 and 2 cwt. per acre (practically) of nitrate of soda; the same mi- 

 nerals and i cwt. nitrate of soda yielding 2.3 bus. less. Farmyard 

 manure produced 24.3 bus. ; but rape-dust (4 cwt. per acre) only 

 1 6. 6 bus. The 4 cwt. of rape-dust were apparently not equal in 

 effect to i cwt. of nitrate of soda, which supplied the same amount 

 of nitrogen, the latter yielding 23.7 bus. 



So far the presence of phosphate appears to be more essential 

 than that of potash, but the evidence is not yet conclusive. Sul- 

 phate of ammonia alone gave no crop beyond a little tail corn, 

 but with varying quantities of lime applied some years previously 

 5 cwt. in 1905, 2 tons in 1897, and 2 tons in 1905 the crops were 

 respectively 3 bus., 22.9 bus., and 18.7 bus. Where a heavy dres- 

 sing of sulphate of ammonia was used with minerals, the yield was 

 insignificant where no lime was given. The report states that " it 

 is becoming increasingly clear that heavy dressings of sulphate of 

 ammonia, when continuously applied "will run land out" where lime 

 is deficient, even when mineral manures are applied, and that the 

 true remedy is liming." There are, further, indications that x / 2 ton 

 per acre of lime is not sufficient, but that at least i ton per acre 

 should be used. " 



