TIIE CANADIAN IIOKTICULTUIIIST. 117 



most active that could be produced, being a mixture of phosphate of 

 ammonia, nitrate of potash, and chloride of sodium. 



From similar experiments made at the Agricultural Observatory at 

 Montsouris, France, results of a like nature were found to follow ; and 

 it was demonstrated that for a crop of forty bushels per acre of wheat, 

 the minimum amount of water evaporated through the leaves was six 

 inches in depth over the whole surface of the field, whilst the maxi- 

 mum reached was seventeen inches of rainfall. Though 40 bushels of 

 wheat is considered a good crop in this country, from 64 to 66 bushels 

 are not uncommon with the farmers in England. If however only six 

 inches of water is evaporated through the leaves, when we take into 

 consideration the amount evaporated from the ground, the quantity of 

 water that runs away during the heavier rains, and that which is lost 

 unassimilated through the drains, it will be evident the rainfall of say 

 half April, May, June, July and August, — the growing season, — 

 amounting to 13J inches, (the average rainfall in Canada,) is "not 

 enough to moisten the ground," and that " water is in a great measure 

 wanting." 



It is utterly impossible in Ontario to rival the crops of England 

 without a larger supply of water than the clouds are Avilling to give, 

 and if such is the case with wheat how much more is it with regard 

 to the gi-asses and the more succulent garden vegetables. Every year 

 we see the pastures more or less burned up, and even the foliage 

 plants, with the exception perhaps of Indian corn and millet, would 

 give a nmch larger yield if water were at hand for irrigation. 



It is hardly a fair comparison to set the climate of Ontario and 

 England in juxtaposition with regard to irrigation, as there is relatively 

 no similarity. The evaporation from the sea keeps the atmosphere 

 there continually moist. We hear of such things as eight hours sun- 

 shine in eighty days, I think in the year 1877, but of course in the 

 year referred to the crops were unusually bad, whereas the average of 

 cloudy weather here is only 0.61. 



I am aware that sewage farms have not so far met with the success 

 anticipated. It appears that the thicker parts of the manure collect 

 around the stems. of the grass plants, and the growth is checked or 

 decay ensues. But water meadows have always proved a success. 



The vineyards of the Crimea whicli are planted in four villages, 

 and extend over an area of 15,000 acres, are regularly irrigated, 



