70 CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



Woodburn, Morpeth, the whole subject was fully dis- 

 cussed, and a highly practical value given to it by a series 

 of directions as to the kind of manure to be used for 

 the various crops and in various soils. Of these we give 

 here the portion referring to the wheat crop: (1.) For 

 Sandy Soils. "For wheat in autumn, 2 cwt. rape-cake and 

 2 cwt. superphosphate will be found a suitable application, 

 but in spring sown wheat, 1 cwt. each of guano (I mean 

 Peruvian), nitrate of soda, and 2 cwt. of common salt, or 



2 cwt, sulphate of ammonia, and 2 cwt. salt, would be an 

 excellent dressing, and if this were divided and applied at 

 three intervals till May it would be still better." (2.) For 

 Calcareous Soils. " Wheat being usually sown after clover 

 on this description of soil, receives an application of farm- 

 yard manure on the lea during the latter part of summer, 

 which is immediately ploughed in. In spring a top-dress- 

 ing is very desirable, and is now much more general than 

 formerly. Nitrate of soda and common salt, 2 cwt. of each, 

 applied separately or together, have invariably produced a 

 good effect. This dressing should be applied towards the 

 end of March, and after the land has been rolled, to con- 

 solidate it, and counteract the effects of the previous frost. 

 From this, then, I think we have a right to assume that 

 nitrate of soda and salt is the most suitable application, not 

 only to wheat, but to the rest of the cereal crops. Perhaps, 

 however, for oats, 1 cwt. of guano might be substituted for 

 1 cwt. of salt with a good result." (3.) For Clay Soils. 

 " If artificial manure is to be applied to autumn sown wheat 

 after clover, bare fallow or beans, 4 cwt. of rape-cake, or 



3 cwt. guano, or even a mixture of these two substances, at 

 3 cwt. per acre, would be found effective. For wheat after 

 turnips I should not consider any artificial dressing neces- 

 sary in the autumn, but 2 to 3 cwt. of guano, or 1-J cwt. 

 sulphate of ammonia, with 2 cwt. of salt, or 2 to 3 cwt. 

 phospho-Peruvian guano, applied in March, would be ad- 

 visable." (4.) For Vegetable Moulds. " The organic being in 

 excess of the mineral matter in the soil, must here guide 

 us in our application of artificial manures ; inasmuch as 



