22 Experiments with diff ci cut Top-Dressings upon Wheat. 
Composition of Commercial Soot. 
Moisture 7-39 
♦Organic matter 43-09 
fSiil I ihato of ammonia 12*72 
Insoluble siliceous matter ir>-12 
Oxide of iron and alumina 6'ol 
Carbonate of lime 10"63 
Carbonate of magnesia 1'84 
Alkaline salts (by diflercnce) 2"70 
lOO-OO 
♦Containing nitrogen .. '21 
Equal to ammonia '25 
f Containing ammonia 3' 29 
The wheat was reaped towards tlie end of August, and threshed 
out on the 27th of September, 1860. 
There was no appreciable difference in the weight of the corn 
grown on these 8 plots. On an average an imperial bushel 
weighed 59 lbs. The produce per acre, therefore, was uniformly 
calculated at 59 lbs. per bushel. 
A glance at Tables I. and II. (page 23) will show several par- 
ticulars to which attention may be directed, 
1. The yield of the unmanured portion of this field was 
34 bushels of corn and 1 ton 7 cwt. of straw per acre, which is 
a tolerably good crop for a bad wheat-season. 
In 1859 — abetter season than 1860 — the unmanured portion of 
the experimental field yielded only 27 bushels of corn and 
17 cwt. 3 qrs. of straw, in round numbers. Notwithstand- 
ing the larger natural produce, due no doubt to the superior 
character of the land on which the experiments were tried in 
1860, several of the top-dressings gave a very considerable increase 
both in grain and straw. We have thus here a partial proof that 
nitrogenized top-dressings are not merely beneficial to wheat when 
grown on poor land or soils out of condition, but that they may be 
likewise applied with advantage to good wheat-land. 
2. In 1859, the heaviest crop was produced by 6 cwt. of 
Proctor's wheat-manure; in I860, by 1^ cwt. of nitrate of soda 
and 3 cwt. of salt. 
This dressing, it will be seen, gave no less than 47^ bushels of 
grain and nearly 2 tons of straw per acre ; or an increase of 
13 bushels of corn and 12 J cwt. of straw over the unmanured 
plot. 
On soils in good condition, a top-dressing with 1^- cwt. of nitrate 
of soda and 3 cwt. of salt, applied towards the end of March 
or the beginning of April, is one of the best manuring mixtures 
that can be employed. 
