Experimental Crops at Rothamslcd. 
105 
of the fact that, notwithstanding the unusual drought of 1870, 
which almost suspended the growth of the unmanured herbage, 
and much diminished that manured with mineral manure and 
ammonia-salts, the plants which had gradually asserted posses- 
sion over others on the plot continuously manured with mineral 
manure and nitrate of soda, should have yielded, under the same 
circumstances of scarcity of rain, an all but average crop. 
Before leaving the subject of the influence of the drought of 
1870 on the hay-crop, it may be added that a portion of the 
park adjoining the experimental plots was liberally manured 
•with London stable-dung, but no benefit whatever was apparent, 
and the crop was so light as to be scarcely worth mowing. 
The evidence at command in regard to the effects of the 
drought on other of the experimental crops, is not of the same, 
or in some respects of so direct a kind, as that relating to the 
mixed herbage, and to the soils, of the experimental plots of 
grass land. Nevertheless, some facts of interest may be recorded 
illustrating the influence of the moisture stored up within the 
soil on the growth of both wheat and barley, 
Kesults relating to the Growth op Wheat. 
The following Table (IV.) shows the amounts of grain, and the 
amounts of total produce (corn and straw together), obtained in 
the experimental wheat-field for 19 years in succession, 1852- 
1870 inclusive : — 
1. On Plot 3, continuously unmanured. 
2. On Plot 2, receiving 14 tons farmyard manure per acre per 
annum. 
3. On Plot 7, receiving, annually, mixed mineral manure, and 
400 lbs. ammonia-salts per acre. 
4. On Plot 9a, receiving, annually, the same mixed mineral 
manure as plot 7, and 550 lbs. nitrate of soda per acre. 
The Table also shows, side by side with the amounts of 
produce, the fall of rain each 3 ear during the months of April, 
May, June, and July, which may be said to include the period 
of active vegetation and accumulation of substance. It should 
be further explained, that, in order that the different amounts of 
grain from year to year may be more strictly comparable one 
with another, and to avoid the necessity of recording and con- 
sidering the weight per bushel in each case, the total Aveight of 
dressed corn has been divided by 61, and the Table shows, there- 
lore, not the actual number of measured bushels in each case, 
but the number of bushels of an assumed uniform weight of 
61 lbs. 
