On the Nitrate of Soda. 



137 



of one-sixth, both in quantity of grain and in weight of straw, over that 

 part which was not sown with either. The turnips this year following 

 the wheat are most decidedly better where the nitre or nitrate of soda 

 were used, the tops still growing, and very luxuriant, while on the 

 other part they are beginning to fall. 



This year I have only used the nitrate of soda : 1 cwt. per acre, 1st, 

 for wheat on a fair light soil, sown on the 20th of May, the produce 

 32 bushels per acre ; where no nitrate was sown 21 bushels 2 pecks, 

 being an excess of 4 bushels 2 pecks. 2nd, on better land, a fair loam, 

 sown 26th of May (both after clover), produce 36 bushels per acre; 

 without nitrate of soda 30 bushels 2 pecks, being an excess of 5 bushels 

 2 pecks. In both cases one-sixth more of chaff and straw, but no im- 

 provement in the quality of the corn. 3rd, for barley, on a very poor 

 sandy soil, where the turnips the year before were nearly destroyed by 

 the land blowing, produce 32 bushels per acre; without nitrate of soda 

 18 bushels; excess 14 bushels, and one-third more straw and chaff; 

 the quality also of the grain improved. 



This result is so satisfactory to me that, having tried it on above one 

 hundred acres this year, I purpose using nearly double the quantity next 

 season. 



I am, Sir, 

 Your obedient Servant, 



H. W. Wilson. 



Didlington Hall, Brandon, Suffolk, 

 2nd Nov., 1840. 



Experiments with Nitrate of Soda on different Soils-. By 

 Mr. William Greaves. 



To the Secretary, 



I HAVE great pleasure in forwarding to you the result of my using 

 nitrate of soda; and have endeavoured to calculate the quantities to 

 the greatest nicety. The field is a heavy soil, on a clay bottom, about 

 10 acres, and was sown with brew oats on the 23rd and 24th of March 

 last ; the weather was dry generally till the latter end of April. I dressed 

 the field with nitrate of soda on the 18th of April, at the rate of 1 cwt. 

 per acre, with the exception of one .land, which went up the centre of 

 the field; this was carefully measured, as well as the one adjoining to 

 it, and which was as near as possible of the same size. In the course 

 of a fortnight, as far as the field could be seen, the land not sown could 

 be distinguished from the other by its inferiority both in colour and 

 strength; this continued till the last. The part of the field not dressed 

 had the best chance of produce, owing to a heavy storm the first week 

 in August, which completely laid flat the whole field, with the exception 

 of the undressed land, which stood up. The field was mown on the 

 first week in September, and carted on the 18th. The two lands were 



