132 



On the Nitrate of Soda, 



answer beyond my most sanguine expectations. The quantity I have 

 used has been an hundred weight to the acre, both of the saltpetre and 

 the nitrate, as a top-dressing. The first trial was in a field of eight 

 acres of oats, using the nitre upon alternate lands, and where the corn 

 was thinnest, the increase was rather more than two quarters to the 

 acre, with abundance of straw, and the sample the best, according to the 

 opinion of several farmers who came to see the field. I tried it upon 

 my barleys, and T think I had better success with them than with 

 the oats, and also upon a meadow. The mowers, with others who 

 came to see the effect of the application, gave it as their opinion that 

 the increase was about three-quarters of a load to the acre. I used it 

 last year upon a field of six acres, four acres of which had been dunged 

 with the yard-dung, (about eight or ten loads to the acre, worth five 

 shillings a load) for turnips, but to the other two acres I applied the 

 nitrate without any dung. To my great satisfaction I found that the 

 turnips grew so fast that they soon got out of the way of the fly, which 

 had been very destructive to the other parts of the field, and indeed this 

 was the only good piece in the field : in this case the nitre was used 

 soon after the turnips were up. 



This year I applied the nitre to my wheat, when, from the wet season 

 and the wire-worm, the plant was nearly destroyed, and I found it 

 particularly beneficial, the wire-worm either being killed by the appli- 

 cation or forsaking the roots ; and, consequently, I think I have above 

 an average crop of wheat. I have now growing a field of six acres 

 of turnips, remarkably fine, and without any other manure than that 

 01 the nitre, and very superior to my other turnips where I have used 

 the yard-dung in the quantity before stated ; in this case the nitre 

 was sowed a few days after the turnips, and before they were up. 



I think from the numerous correspondents I have had, in consequence 

 of my recommendation, that the application of the nitre as a manure is 

 giving general satisfaction, and coming very much into use. The best 

 season for the application is as soon as vegetation begins to feel the 

 influence of the spring, taking care to avoid frosty nights as much as 

 jDOssible. Several farmers have informed me they have found it better 

 to apply the quantity at two different times, one half when the corn first 

 begins to feel the influence of the spring, and the other half about six 

 weeks afterwards. I shall offer no apology for my long detail, knowing 

 your object and that of your Council is to obtain information. And 

 any further communication that I could make shall always be at the 

 service of the Society. 



And I remain, Sir, 



Yours truly, 



John Burgess. 



Elmhurst, Great Missenden, Bucks. 

 9th Sept., 1840. 



I am afraid many have used the Egyptian nitrate of soda, which is 

 comparatively very cheap, and very inferior in strength, and conse- 

 quently they have been disappointed in their expectations, — J. B. 



