EFFECT OF SEASON VVi)^ OrAMTV s7 



salts give a better crop than the nitrate u\' soda are wi'tter 

 througliout than those in which the nitrate of sixhi is tlie more 

 effective source of nitrogen. A wi't AFareli seems to he tlir 

 most liurtful to the nitrate of so(hi pU)t. Tlie comparative 

 effect of the mineral manures in a wet and (h*y season are also 

 similar to those noticed in tlie ease of tlie wheat. Inllicwct 

 season the crop is very dependent upon supplies of minerals in 

 the manure, and especially on an abundance of phosphoric 

 acid. In 1894 the addition of phosphoric acid raised the 

 yield from 10-4 bushels per acre on Plot 1 A to 134 '9 bushels 

 per acre on Plot 2 A, and from 17 "8 Inishels per acre on 

 Plot 3 A to 41-4 bushels per acre on Plot 4 A. In a dry 

 season it is potash that chiefly tells ; for example in 1S93 the 

 addition of potash on Plot 4 A to the superphosphate and 

 anunonium-salts on Plot 2 A, produced a specially marked 

 increase of crop, from 181 to 30"8 bushels per acre. 



Doubtless in the wet season the ripening ef!ect of the 

 phosphoric acid is specially valual)le, while in a dry season tlie 

 potash, by inducing a longer period of growth, is more effective 

 in increasing the crop. The ripening action of the phosphoric 

 acid may also be seen in the way it increases the weight per 

 Inishel of the orain in a wet season, whereas in a drv season it 

 has little or no effect. 



In the dry season the weight per bushel is much higher 

 than in the wet, and the grain is about e<[ual in weight to the 

 straw, whereas in the wet season the weight of grain only 

 amounts to about 70 per cent, of the straw. 



Taking the results as a whole, it is seen that season has a 

 nuich greater effect in bringing about changes in the composi- 

 tion of the barley grain than have variations in the manuring, 

 but that the best barley will be grown with a fair but not large 

 amount of nitrogenous manure c()nd)ined with a free supply of 

 phosphoric acid in some way or other. 



It does not appear possible to establish any such critical 

 periods for the rainfall in relation to the growth of barley as 

 could be done for wheat. 



