196 TALKS OX MANURES. 



The summpr of 1850 was unusually cool and unfavorable for 

 wheat. It will be seen that on all tUe plots the Ticld of grain is 

 considerably lower than last year, with a greater growth of straw. 

 You will notice that 106, which last year gave, with ammo- 

 nia-salts alone, -i^i bushels, this year, with supcrphi)Si)li'itc, potash, 

 Boda, anJ sulphate of magnesia, gives less than 18 busliels, while 

 the adjoining plot, dressed with ammonia, gives nearly 27 bushels. 

 In other words, the ammonia alone gives !> bushels per acre more 

 than this large dressing of superphosphate, potash, etc. 



On the three plots, 8a, Sb and 9a, a dressing of ammonia-salts 



alone gives in each case, a larger yield, both of grain and straw, than 



the 14 tons of barn-yard manure on plot 2. And recollect that 



this plot has now received 98 tons of manure in seven years. 



" That," saitl the Doctor, "is certainly a ver3- remarkable fuel." 



" It is so," said the Deacon. 



"But whiit of it ?" asked the Sciuire, " even the Professor, here, 

 does not advise the use of alunlunia-^alts for wheat." 



" Tlial is so," said 1, "but pcrlnps I am mistaken. Such facts 

 as those just given, though I have been acquainted witli them for 

 many years, sometimes incline me to doubt the soundness of my 

 conclusions. Still, on the whole, I think I am riglit." 



" We all know," said the Deacon, " that you have great respect 

 for your own opinions." 



" Never mind all that." said the Doctor, " but tell us just what 

 you think on this subject." 



•' In brief," said I, " my opinion is this. TVc need ammonia for 

 ■wheat. But tlioudi ammonia-iJalts and nitrate of soda can often be 

 used with decided profit, yet I ftel sure that we can get anmio- 

 nia or nitrogen at a less cost per lb. by buying bran, malt roots, 

 cotton-seed cake, and other foods, and using them for the double 

 purpose of feeding stock and makini: manure." 



" I admit that such is the case. " said the Doctor, " but here is a 

 plot of land that has now had 14 tons of manure every year for 

 seven years, and yet there is a plot along side, dressed with am- 

 monia-salts furnishing less than half the ammonia contained in the 

 14 tons of manure, that produces a better yield of wheat." 



"Tliat," said I, "is simply because the nitrogen in the manure 

 is not in an available condition. And the practical question is, 

 how to make the nitrogen in our manure more inimodiately avail- 

 able. It is one of the most important fpirstions which agricultural 

 science is called upon to answer. Until we get more light, I fecJ 



