PRACTICAL INFERENCES. 



271 



''These particulars are perhaps not unimportant, as they 

 may serve to show that an almost unlimited supply of both 

 these salts may be calculated upon, and, in the case of the 

 nitrate of soda, that its price might be kept down, rather 

 than enhanced, by an increased demand. 



**That, however, with which the agriculturist is most 

 concerned, is to determine the relative value of these salts 

 as manures, and to discriminate the kind of land to which 

 either or both are beneficial. 



*' Now, it is remarkable, that the nitrates, whilst they 

 have in some cases occasioned a wonderful increase of pro- 

 duce, in others have appeared of little service, and also 

 that, whereas on certain land both were equally efficacious, 

 on a diflferent description of soil, the one has answered, 

 whilst the other failed. 



*' For a great deal of interesting information on this sub- 

 ject, I may refer to the Journal of the Royal Agricultural 

 Society of England, — its last number^ more especially: 

 on the present occasion I shall confine myself to noticing 

 the communication of Mr. Hyett, of Painswick, as one, 

 which probably points to the true cause of the advantage 

 derived from the employment of these salts. 



"Mr. Hyett's experiments were made upon the stone or 

 cornbrash of Gloucestershire, a coarse and impure oolitic 

 limestone, which had been drilled with white Sicilian wheat 

 in the autumn. 



'' Nitrate of soda, at the rate of 1 cwt. to the acre, was 

 on the 21st of April, sown and hoed in over all the field, 

 excepting two square portions, which were staked out, and 

 left unnitrated. 



*'0n the 16th of May the effect of the salt was per- 

 ceived, by the dark green color of the plants. 



** The results of the harvest were as follows : 



"* For January, 1841." 



