MANURES FOR THE WHEAT CROP. 69 



the best. Where the soil is light, the benefits of consoli- 

 dation obtained by the folding of sheep are, of course, lost 

 in the former mode. Where hen dung or pigeon dung can 

 be obtained in sufficient quantity, a top dressing of 30 to 

 40 bushels per acre will be beneficial to the wheat crop in 

 almost every kind of soil ; the manure should be covered 

 in with a light harrow, or it may be drilled between the 

 rows of plants. Soot is generally very beneficial as a top 

 dressing to the wheat crop ; 30 to 40 bushels per acre is 

 the quantity applied, and this should be given not later 

 than March. As soon as applied it should be covered in, 

 and applied also in damp or moist weather. Soot, it is 

 right to state, is not so markedly beneficial in some as it 

 is in other soils. Eape-cake is a very valuable manure for 

 wheat, applied at the time of sowing ; it acts also as a pre- 

 ventive of the ravages of the wire-worm, at least it has 

 done so in some soils ; it may also be drilled in between 

 the rows in spring ; from 8 to 1 6 bushels may be applied ; 

 its beneficial effects are best displayed in heavy soils, with 

 a dry subsoil. Malt-dust has -to the extent of 30 to 50 

 bushels per acre been also used with advantage to the 

 wheat crop. Bones on dry soils may, at the rate of 16 to 

 30 bushels per acre, be applied with much advantage. 

 Guano may also be used, but some caution in its use is 

 necessary, as, if applied early in autumn, it is apt to over- 

 stimulate the plants, and make them " winter-proud ; " 

 loss is also apt to ensue from this practice, as the winter 

 rains are likely to wash out the guano. Where the land 

 is heavy and the climate cold, and the weather, therefore, 

 anything but stimulating in temperature, guano may be 

 applied with advantage in November. Nitrate of soda is a 

 valuable artificial manure for the wheat crop, but it should 

 always be applied in spring, never in autumn, as, when so ap- 

 plied, the same results are likely to happen as those to which 

 we have referred above in treating of the use of guano. 



4 6. In an exceedingly valuable paper on the use of 

 artificial manures for farm crops, read before the Hexham 

 Farmers' Club by Mr. Jacob Wilson of Manor House, 



