On the Nitrate of Soda, 



141 



Both crops came into ear at the same time, and much aUkc — viz. on 

 June 8. 



June 12. — The contrast in colour was beginning to diminish. 



July 2. — Both crops blossomed together and alike. The difference 

 in colour, which had been becoming less and less distinct, was no longer 

 bservable, though the nitrated part still retained the lead in strength 

 and size. 



July 20. — The nitrated wheat was now observed to be mildewed in 

 straw and ear, while the other parts of the field were not at all affected. 

 On the 8th or 9th there had been heavy rains, probably as much as 0 • 5 

 inches — the quantity which fell in London on the 9th with the wind in 

 the north-west. On the 13th the thermometer was as low as 49°. On 

 the 15th it rose to 77°, and continued high, with little or no rain, be- 

 tween the 9th and the 20th ; and it is probable to this latter state of the 

 weather that the mildew in the 'nitrated part was owing, as it is ob- 

 served that hot and dry weather, without dew, has a tendency to create 

 that disease on the richer parts of a field, and the more luxuriant crops. 



There are, I know, some farmers of experience in the use of the nitrates 

 who think them peculiarly likely to generate mildew ; and I have given 

 the above meteorological details minutely, because it seems in this case 

 to have been the usual and natural effect of the weather on the more 

 luxuriant part of the crop, and not any inherent evil in the particular 

 manure. At all events, they may afford others who are in the habit of 

 registering and collating the w^eather with its effects on growing crops 

 some data from which to draw an opinion. 



From this tim.e till harvest nothing particular was observed, except 

 that the nitrated part presented a dirty, blackish appearance in straw 

 and ear, while the other parts of the crop were bright and clean. 



August 25. — Finished reaping — the nitrated wheat had not ripened 

 as equally as the rest — about one-third part of the ears were in a milky 

 state, while the rest was quite ripe. In the same ear one part was soft, 

 and the rest hard and ripe. That which was not nitrated had ripened 

 perfectly and equally. Of course, when the two samples were 

 thrashed out they were of unequal quality, though the nitrated wheat 

 was not as much inferior as might have been expected. 



The quantity and value of the two crops are given in the table below. 

 The two samples of wheat were valued by a respectable corn-dealer 

 at the price at which he would buy it, without being aware of the object 

 — the nitrated at 8s., and the other at 8^. 3d. a bushel: the former 

 weighed 60, and the latter 6 libs. He valued the tail wheat, though not 

 a marketable article, as worth 5,y. a bushel in each case ; and they 

 weighed the same to an ounce — 501bs. Straw has been selling in this 

 neighbourhood as high as SOs. a ton, but this is higher than the general 

 price; and in order not to err on the side of over-value, I have set 

 mine at 40^., the price at which I would gladly buy it. 



The result of the experiment is as follows : — 



