EXPEKIMENTS ON WHEAT. 17;] 



*rbe luunurc Iiail not Invu pik'd. ll was probably taken oul 

 frc'sb from the yard (tins, at auy rate, wa-s the case when 1 was at 

 lt<^)thanisted), and plowed under late iu the season. Anl on this 

 heavy land, manure will lie l)uried in the soil for months, or, if un- 

 disturbed, for years, without decomposition. In other words, while 

 this 14 tons of barn-yard manure, contained at least 150 lbs. of 

 nitrogen, and a larire (piantity of minerals and carbonaceous 

 matter, it did not produce a bushel per acre n)ore than a manure 

 conliiiniMLT less than 12 lbs. of nitrou'en. And on plot li), a manure 

 containini; less than 10 lbs. of available nilropr«n, produced nearly 

 4 bushels per acre more wheat than the barn-yard manure contain- 

 ing at least Un times as much nitrogen. 



There can l)e but one explanation of this fact. The nitrogen in 

 the manure lay dormant in this heavy soil. Had it been a light 

 samly soil, it would have decomposed more rapidly and produced 

 a better effect. 



As we have before stated, John Johnston finds, on his clay-land, 

 a far greater etTect from manure spread on the surface, whore it 

 decomposes rapidly, than w hen the manure is [ilowed under. 



The Deacon was looking .at the figun-s in the table, and not pa}-- 

 ing much attention to our talk. " What could a man be thinking 

 about," he said, " to burn 14 tons of good manure ! It was a great 

 waste, and I am gl.ad the a-ihes did no sort of good." 



Afler the wheat was harvested in 1844, the land was immedi- 

 ately plowed, harrowed, etc. ; and in a few weeks was i)lowed 

 igain and sown to wheat, the different plots being kept separate, 

 as before. 



The following table shows the manures used this second year, 

 and the yield per acre : 



