142 



On the Nitrate of Soda. 





Measure per Acre. 



Value per Acre. 



1 Produce. 



Without 

 Nitrate. 



With 

 Nitrate. 



Excess. 



Without 

 Nitrate. 



With 

 Nitrate. 



Excess. 



Corn, clean 

 „ tail 



„ total 

 1 Straw . . 



Bu. Pks. Pts. 

 30 2 11 

 2 3 11 



Bu. Pks. Pts. 

 37 3 4 

 5 3 7 



Bu. Pks. Pts. 



7 0 9 

 *2 3 12 



£. s. d. 

 12 13 0 

 0 14 7 



£. s. d. 

 15 2 6 

 19 2 



£. s. d. 

 2 9 6 

 0 14 7 



33 2 6 



43 2 11 



10 0 5 



13 7 7 

 2 6 11 



16 11 8 

 3 3 0 



3 4 1 

 0 16 1 



Weight per Ache. 



T. cwt. qrs. lbs. 

 1 3 1 21 



T. cwt. qrs. lbs. 

 1 11 2 3 



T. cwt. qrs. lbs. 

 0 8 0 10 





Total value of corn and sti-aw . 



Cost of nitrate on the 

 Net profit on 



15 14 6 

 ground 

 the nitrate p 



19 14 8 

 er acre . 



4 0 2 



1 3 0 



2 17 2 



This result satisfactorily proves that the nitrate of soda used on the 

 stone-hrash, in good heart, produces an abundant wheat-crop, though 

 the risk of injury by weather, from over-luxuriance, seems increased. 

 Still, making every allowance for actual injury in this case, and for the 

 outlay, the increased value of the produce gives an ample profit in 

 21. I7s. 2d. an acre — a sum nearly double the rent of much of the adja- 

 cent land of similar quality. 



But then comes the question, does it exhaust the soil ? The answer 

 must of course be found by experiment and observation in future 

 years ; but in the mean time I know — and it is one of the many advan- 

 tages of weighing and measuring — that I have 21. 17^. 2d. an acre in 

 hand towards reinstating the land if injured in its previous condition- — 

 the worst come to the worst, a considerable sum in the way of security 

 against risk of loss from exhaustion of soil. But it is more than pro- 

 bable it will never be required for that purpose, and will remain for 

 future purchases of nitrate of soda, for I shall not hesitate to pursue a 

 practice which experiment, or rather experience, seems so fairly to 

 justify. 



It is but right, however, to add that similar experiments which I have 

 made on grass and swedes, neither as experiments nor as to result, were 

 as satisfactory as could be wished. On the contrary, as far as they go 

 in result, they lead to the conclusion that, as applied here and on this 

 soil, the practice would be anything but profitable. 



* If the inferiority of sample, and consequently large excess of tail-corn, where the 

 nitrate wa§ used, is due to the mildew, and it had not occurred, the result would have 

 been much more favourable. Taking the same proportion of tail-corn on the 43 bushels 

 2 pecks 11 pints as on the 33 bushels 2 pecks 6 pints, and setting both samples at the 

 same price, viz. 8*. 3d., the net profit would have been 3/. 13*. 5^d. instead of 2/. 17s. 2d., 

 and event his sum would have increased still farther if the niti-ated wheat had ripened 

 as well and fall as the other. 



