MANURES FOIi OATS. 253 



able one for oats. The no-manure plot produced less than 17 

 bushels per acre ; and the " ashes " and superphosphate on plot 2, 

 give an increase of less than 3 bushels per acre. But it will be 

 seen that on plot 3 the ammonia-salts do as much good in this un- 

 favorable season as in the favorable one. They give an increase 

 of over 20 bushels per acre. 



"A few such facts as this," said the Deacon, " would almost 

 persuade me that you are right in contending that it is in the un- 

 favorable seasons, when prices are sure to be high in this country, 

 that a good farmer stands the best chance to make money." 



" Where mixed alkalies and superphosphate," said the Doctor, 

 " are added to the ammonia, the increase from the ammonia is far 

 greater than where ammonia is used alone. In other words, by 

 comparing plot 2 and plot 4, you will see that the ammonia gives 

 an increase of 30 bushels per acre in 1869, and 31| bushels 

 in 1870." 



The truth of the matter probably is this : 100 Ibs. of available 

 ammonia per acre is an excessive supply, when used alone. And 

 in fact Mr. Lawes himself only recommends about half this 

 quantity. 



Whether it will pay us to use artificial manures on oats depends 

 on the price we are likely to get for the oats. When the price of 

 oats psr Ib. and oat-straw is as high as barley and barley-straw per 

 Ib. , then it will pay a Uttte better to use manure on oats than on 

 barley. As a rule in this country, however, good barley is worth 

 more per Ib. than good oats ; and it will usually pay better to use 

 artificial manures on barley than on oats. 



Some years ago Mr. Bath, of Virginia, made some experiments 

 on oats with the following results : 



JBitshds of oats 

 per acrs. 



No. 1200 Ibs. Superphosphate 22 



No. 2200 Ibs. Peruvian guano 48? 



No. 3100 Ibs. Peruvian guano 32 



The oats were sown March 13, and the crop harvested July 4. 



In 1860, 1 made some experiments with gypsum, superphosphate, 

 and sulphate of ammonia as a top-dressing on oats. 



The land was a clover-sod, plowed about the middle of May, 

 and the oats sown May 20. On the 26th of May, just as the oats 

 were coming up, the manures were sown broadcast. The oats 

 were sown too late to obtain the best results. On another field, 

 where the oats were sown two weeks earlier, the crop was decidedly 

 better. The oats were cut August 28. 



The following is the result : 



