8 Experiments with different Top-dressings upon Wheat. 



dark green colour of the wheat on that plot was unmistakable. 

 The wheat on Plot II. looked remarkably well throughout the 

 season, and at harvest time was as high as the wheat dressed 

 with guano. The nitrate of soda employed in this experiment 

 was very pure, as will be seen by the subjoined analysis : 



Composition of Nitrate of Soda. 



Moisture T87 



Pure nitrate of soda 95-68 



Chloride of sodium "79 



Sulphate of soda T17 



Sand -49 



100-00 



PLOT III. Top-dressed, March 22nd, with nitrate of soda and 

 salt, at the rate of 180 Ibs. of nitrate of soda and 1^ cwt. of 

 salt per acre, cost I/. 12s. Qd. per acre. 



The remarks made with respect to Plot II. apply equally well 

 to this plot There was no visible difference in the appearance 

 and general character of the wheat on Plots II. and III., and at 

 harvest time it was impossible to say which of the two would 

 yield the heavier crop. 



Many persons who passed by the wheat-field, which could be 

 overlooked from the turnpike-road, were astonished at the dark- 

 green coloured wheat on the two plots upon which nitrate of 

 soda was put. In comparison with the surrounding wheat, which 

 had received no top-dressing, the two J-acre plots looked as if a 

 painter had put an extra layer of green colour on the wheat. The 

 common salt used on Plot III. was ordinary agricultural salt. 



PLOT IV. Top-dressed, March 22nd, with wheat-manure 

 (Proctor's), at the rate of 4 cwts. per acre, cost 17. 12s. Qd. 

 per acre. 



The effects produced by this top-dressing were not so soon 

 visible as those produced by nitrate of soda. However, in less 

 than a fortnight the wheat was decidedly improved, and, as far 

 as appearance went, kept pace with the wheat dressed with 

 guano. At harvest time it was impossible to say which of the 

 Plots, No. I., II., III., or IV., was the best. An inspection of 

 the following analysis will show that the wheat-manure used on 

 this and following plot was an excellent fertilizer. It will be 

 noticed that it contained a large quantity of nitrogen, partly as 

 sulphate of ammonia, partly in the shape of soluble and in- 

 soluble nitrogenized organic matter. In addition to these 

 important constituents, it contained both soluble and insoluble 

 phosphates, as well as common salt, gypsum, and a few other 

 matters of less value. 



