270 TALKS OX MANURES. 



wheat, but if we neglect Id do so, tlKii top-drtssing is a commend- 

 abk' prartice. 



Dr. Vaelfkcr reports tlic result of some experiments in top-dress- 

 ini,' winler-wlieal on the farm of tlie Hoyal Airricultunil Collepe at 

 Cireueester, En,i,'h»nd. The niaiiurcs were th x\y sifted and nuxed 

 with about ten liiue.s tlieir weiirht of fine soil, and sown l)roa<lcast 

 on the jyrrowing wheat, March 22. A fine rain (Kcurrcd the follow- 

 inji day, and washed the manure into the soil. The following is 

 the yield per acre : — 



N> > manure 27 bushcla and UJH4 lbs. of straw. 



jso Ills. IVruviiin t'uiuo 4n " " 2.'>7»5 " " 



r.i"> •• nitrate f.f sotlii 'M " <• 'MKi " *' 



!"«) •• nitnito of Mula, and HW lbs. of 



cdintnon salt 4ni " '• 27H6 " " 



14H Ills. I'rortor'H whcttt-inanurc :RM " " 'JTidS " " 



•■>7.' " " " " 44i " " »KR» " " 



4 tons chalk-marl 27 " " 1«72 " " 



The nvinuri's in e.ich ca.^e cost $7. SO jxr acre, except the larsre 

 dose of IVoctor's wlieal-tnanure, which cost $11.70 per acre. The 

 wheat was wortli if 1.20 jwr bushel. Ix-avinij the value of the straw 

 out of the (jues'ion, t!ie profit from the use of the lop dressing was : 



With irimno $.H.rO jht acre. 



" nitrate ..f Rola.. 0.00 



" nitrate of himIu mill eonunoii Halt (t.ItS 



" 4ls llm. wlu-atiii iiiiirc 7.JM 



" «r2 •' " 10.10 



The marl did no good. 



The nitrate of soda and c«>mmon salt conUiined no phosphoric 

 acid, and yet produced an excellent eflect. The guano and the 

 wheat manure cont.iined phosphoric aciil a< well as introgen, and 

 the following croj) of clover woidd be likely to get 8on»e benefit 

 from it. 



John .Tolms;<Mi wrote in 1808. " I have u.sed manim* only as a 

 top-dn>.'4sing for the last 20 years, and I do think one loa<l, used in 

 that way, is worth far more than two loads plowed under on our 

 stiiriaud." 



