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XVI. — On the Source and Suj^phj of Cubic Saltj)etre, Salitre^ or 

 Nitrate of Soda, and its Use in Small Quantities as a Resto- 

 rative to Corn Crops. By Ph. Pusey. 



Last spring finding that about ten acres of barley, sown very 

 early, that is, in February, had suffered severely by frosts un- 

 usually sharp for the season, I determined to try the experiment 

 of applying- as a restorative some nitrate of soda, but to use it, 

 as the land was in good order, in a much smaller dose than was 

 ever given before, 42 lbs. only per acre. It v as accompanied 

 with twice the quantity, 84 lbs., of common salt, which does 

 not act as a manure, at least not on this land, yet seems neces- 

 sary for correcting the luxuriant vegetation caused by the nitrate. 

 A long strip (perhaps half an acre) was left undressedt on one 

 side to serve as a test. Small as was the dose, it acted imme- 

 diately, for the barley so treated soon recovered its colour ; and 

 acted thoroughly, for until harvest the barley stood half a foot 

 higher than on the undressed portion. The result on threshings 

 out was most satisfactory, for, while the undressed portion gave 

 only 40 bushels, the remainder, though so gently treated, yielded 

 47 bushels per acre. The cost of the dressing was, 65. for the 

 nitrate, 4f?. for the salt ; 65. 4<i. in all : the value of the seven 

 bushels gained was 265., and the profit, therefore, 300 per cent. 

 Indeed, I might justly assume a yet larger profit, for, contrary to 

 former experiments with nitrate, the nitrated corn was superior to 

 the unnitrated in quality also, to the amount of about 2s. a quarter, 

 which would give a further profit of 10 s. on the other forty bushels, 

 or a total return of 865. per acre for an outlay of 65. 4fZ., to say 

 nothing of the straw, which might cover the trifling labour. It 

 w^ill be admitted, that this at least was no garden experiment, 

 being a fair-sized trial upon a whole ten-acre field. 



The result was beyond my own expectations : and not the least 

 curious question on the action of the manure is the question, how' 

 so small a quantity of any salt could be spread equably, sown by 

 hand as it was, or by any machinery even, so as to act uniformly 

 upon the entire crop. Of the quantity used the weight gives of 

 course no distinct notion, but I find that 42 lbs. weight of nitrate 

 are not more than will three times fill a man's hat, and certainly 

 it is marvellous that three hatfuls of any substance should in- 

 crease so much and so regularly the corn upon a whole acre of 

 land. Even the acre, however, does not present itself as a 

 familiar measure to any but practical farmers. It will be use- 

 ful, therefore, to take a further illustration. St. James's Park 

 contains, I believe, 46 acres. If that entire space from Buck- 

 ingham Palace to the Horse-Guards, including on each side 

 the jNIall and the Birdcage-walk, were cropped Avith barley, one 



