150 Summary of Agricultural Experiments, [may, 



should be not less than six consecutive days, during which the forecasts 

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The office is also prepared to send notification by telegram when 

 the conditions appear favourable for a spell of settled fine weather. The 

 notification will take the form of a forecast covering a period of not less 

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SUMMARY OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS.* 

 Experiments with Cereals. 



Continuous Growing of Wheat, 1908 (Journal of Roy. ^Agric. Soc, 

 Vol. 69, 1908), — After 30 years' continuous experimenting with wheat and 

 barley (1877-1906) at Woburn, certain changes in the plan of manuring 

 were introduced in 1907, and the effect was expected to be manifested for 

 the first time in 1908. One plot received 5 tons 13 cwt. farmyard 

 manure per acre, this being the equivalent of 100 lb. ammonia per 

 acre, and other plots received various mineral manures. " Square 

 Head's Master" was drilled at the rate of z\ bus. per acre. One 

 plot received rape-dust ( = 25 lb. ammonia) on February 21st, and nitro- 

 genous top-dressings were given to various plots in early May and early 

 June. The wheat came into ear by June 19th, and most was cut on 

 August nth, all being carted and stacked by August 26th. 



On the whole, the wheat yield was a good one, the unmanured 

 produce being 12% bus. per acre, or nearly 2 bus. above the average 

 of the last 10 years. The highest yield (285 bus.) was with minerals 

 (superphosphate, 3 cwt., and sulphate of potash, ^ cwt.) and 2 cwt. 

 per acre (practically) of nitrate of soda, the same minerals and 1 cwt. 

 nitrate of soda yielding 2*3 bus. less. Farmyard manure produced 

 24*3 bus., but rape-dust (4 cwt. per acre) only i6'6 bus. The 4 cwt. 

 of rape-dust was apparently not equal in effect to 1 cwt. of nitrate of 

 soda, which supplied the same amount of ammonia, the latter yielding 

 23*7 bus. So far the presence of phosphates appears to be more 

 essential than that of potash, but the evidence is not yet conclusive. 

 .Sulphate of ammonia alone gave no crop beyond a little tail corn, 

 but with varying quantities of lime applied some years previously — 

 5 cwt. in 1905, 2 tons in 1897, and 2 tons in 1905 — the crops were 

 respectively 3 bus., 22*9 bus., and 18*7 bus. Where a heavy dressing 

 of sulphate of ammonia was used with minerals, the yield was in- 

 significant where no lime was given. The report states that "it is 

 becoming increasingly clear that heavy dressings of sulphate of am- 

 monia when continuously applied will ' run land out ' where lime is 

 deficient, even when mineral manures are applied, and that the true 

 remedy is liming." There are, further, indications that £ ton per 

 acre of lime is not sufficient, but that at least 1 ton per acre should 

 be used. 



Continuous Growing of Barley, 1908 (Journal of Roy. Agric. Soc, 

 Vol. 69, 1908). — Similar experiments to the foregoing have been tried at 

 Woburn with barley. In 1908 " Chevalier " barley was drilled on 



* The Board would be glad to receive for inclusion in this summary copies of 

 reports on inquiries, whether carried out by agricultural colleges, societies, or private 

 persons. 



