42 report — 1859. 



that of sugar increases. Thus in mangolds, which were as yet scarcely sweet 

 to the taste, I have found as much as 2f per cent, of nitrogen in the dry roots, 

 whilst in the best and fully ripe mangold wurzels only 1*30 per cent, of nitro- 

 gen was found. 



The nutritive value of different roots, therefore, is not dependent on the 

 relative proportion of nitrogen which they contain, but is regulated chiefly 

 by the relative proportion of sugar which they yield. 



Field Experiments upon Wheat made in 1859. 



I have now to record the results of a series of experiments upon the wheat- 

 crop. 



The field upon which the experiments were made was perfectly level, and 

 apparently of uniform depth and agricultural capability. 



It was divided into seven plots of \ of an acre each. 



Plot 1 was manured with Peruvian guano at the rate of 2\ cwt. per acre ; 

 cost £1 125. 6d. per cwt. 



Plot 2 was manured with nitrate of soda, If cwt. 



Plot 3 was manured with nitrate of soda, 180 lbs., and common salt, 1^ cwt. ; 

 cost £1 12s. 6d. 



Plot 4 was manured with wheat-manure specially prepared, and containing 

 both mineral and ammoniacal constituents, at the rate of 4 cwt. per acre. 



Plot 5 was manured with the same wheat-manure, at the rate of 6 cwt. per 

 acre. 



Plot 6 (unmanured). 



Plot 7 was manured with chalk-marl, 1 ton. 



The nitrate of soda used in the experiments contained 97 per cent, of pure 

 nitrate, and the wheat-manure on analysis was found to contain in 100 parts, — 



Composition of Wheat-manure, same as used in Experiments onRoyal 

 Agricultural College Farm, March 8, 1859. 



Moisture 13*60 



Sulphate of ammonia* 10*97 



Soluble nitrogenized organic matter-)- 8*08 



Insolublef 14*72 



Biphosphate of lime 3*54 



Equal to bone-earth rendered soluble by acid (5*52) 



Insoluble phosphates (bone-earth) 9*45 



Sulphate of magnesia *61 



Hydrated sulphate of lime 19*73 



Chloride of sodium ("common salt) 16*84 



Insoluble siliceous matters 2*46 



100*00 



The different fertilizers were applied in the shape of top-dressings on the 



22nd of March, and the produce reaped in the first week of August and 



thrashed out on the 24th of August. 



* Containing nitrogen 2*32 



Equal to ammonia 2*82 



f Containing nitrogen 3-53 



Equal to ammonia 4-28 



Per-centage of anhydrous sulphuric acid(S0 3 ) in manure 



(total amount of sulphuric acid in all the sulphates) 15-93 



Per-centage of chlorine 10*22 



Per-centage of phosphoric acid 8*91 



