374 Report of Experiments on the Growth of Barley, fc. 
years in succession, of 44 bushels of dressed corn, of nearly 
55 lbs per bushel. With rape-cake, as with guano, the addition 
of superphosphate is unnecessary. 
Whatever manure be used, it should be broken up, finely 
sifted, sown broadcast, and harrowed in with the seed. 
Economy in the cost of the nitrogen is the essential point to 
be considered in the selection of the manure to be used. To 
enable the farmer to make an advantageous choice, according to 
the market price of the different manures at the time, it may be 
useful to state, as a basis of the calculation, that 1 cwt. of nitrate 
of soda, of the quality usually imported, contains nitrogen equal 
to 21 lbs. of ammonia ; and if the nitrate cost 15s. 9cZ. per cwt,, 
that will be equivalent to 9c?. per lb. for ammonia, or 15s. per 
ton for every 1 per cent, of ammonia (or nitrogen equal ammonia) 
which the manure contains. According to the experiments at 
Rothamsted, it would appear that, at equivalent prices, a given 
amount of nitrogen as nitrate of soda may, in the long run, be 
more effective than an equal amount as ammonia ; for, contrary 
to the current opinion, the full effect of the nitrate was not obtained 
until it had been used for some years on the same plot. 
The liability to loss of the nitrogen of manure by drainage has 
been shown to be very great. It will, of course, vary very much, 
according to the characters of the soil and subsoil, and of the 
seasons. But as it is much greater during the late autumn and 
winter months, than in the spring and summer, nitrate of soda, 
sulphate of ammonia, or Peruvian guano, should always be sown 
in the spring ; — for wheat as a top-dressing in March, and for 
barley, or oats, as described above. 
By a more liberal application of manure per acre for the root- 
crop, the area devoted to it may be considerably reduced with 
comparatively little reduction in the amount of the crop on the 
farm as a whole. Barley might then be grown more frequently, 
with an increase of profit to the cultivator, and without lessening 
the renting value of the land. 
Bothamsted, July, 1873. 
XIII. — Report on the Health of Animals of the Farm. By Pro- 
fessor J. B. SiMONDS, Principal of the Royal Veterinary 
College. 
In the interval which has elapsed since my last report, both 
cattle and sheep have been less affected by diseases of an 
ordinary type than is usually the case in the early part of the 
year, notwithstanding the coldness of the weather which has 
prevailed, and the general backwardness of the season. Special 
