On the Nitrate of Soda. 



129 



The application of the nitrate on my grass-land was attended 

 with very little visible effect; but it was remarked jthat the cattle 

 fed more on that part of the park where it had b(3en sown. 



The result of the experiment on swedes I am unable to state, 

 as, unfortunately, the whole field was dressed with the nitrate : 

 the crop suffered much from mildew, and was not heavy. The 

 turnips on which it was tried were sown after a crop of peas 

 had been taken off, at the latter part of July. The effect of the 

 nitrate in this instance has been very remarkable, and will amply 

 repay the cost. On an adjoining piece of land, which had been 

 cropped with tares and dressed with nitrate, after the tares were 

 cut it was ploughed up, and, without any additional dressing, 

 sown with turnip-seed. The turnips are very superior on the 

 lands in question, which can only be attributed to the effect of the 

 nitrate that had been sown upon the tares. This is the first instance 

 which has occurred within my knowledge of any benefit having 

 been received by a second crop from the application of this ma- 

 nure.* The tares were not much improved by it ; and it is there- 

 fore presumable that its fertilizing principle remained nearly 

 dormant until the land was again ploughed and sown. 



The experiments upon oats were made on strong heavy land, 

 with a subsoil of clay ; and upon winter-oats on a flinty loam, 

 with a chalk subsoil. The beneficial effects on the former were 

 partial, and barely sufficient to pay the cost of the nitrate : on the 

 winter- oats the effect was very remarkable ; the adjoining land 

 having produced only at the rate of 5 quarters of corn and 61 

 trusses of straw the acre, while that dressed with the nitrate of 

 soda produced 7 quarters and 4 gallons of corn and 90 trusses 

 of straw the acre. The field was mown in the middle of J uly, at 

 which time the oats would have sold for SOs. the quarter, and the 

 straw at 25s. a load. At these rates, and after deducting the 

 cost of the nitrate, the gain by the use of this dressing amounted 

 to AL 3s. 9d. the acre. 



Applied to barley the result of the trial was also verv satis- 

 factory. 



Bus. G. Q. 



An acre dressed with nitrate produced 55 3 2 



£. s. d. 



Which, at 356^. per quarter, amounts to . 12 2 9J 

 Straw, 56 J trusses, at Is. . . 2 16 6 



14 19 3-i 

 Less cost of nitrate . « 10 0 



13 19 3i 



* A remarkable instance is also stated in Messrs. Drewitt's letter, see p. 127, and 

 anotlier by Mr. Wilson, p. 137. 



VOL. II. K 



