Experiments with different Top-dressings upon Wheat. 391 
dark green colour of the wheat on that plot was unmistakable. 
The wheat on Plot II. looked remarkably well throughout the 
season, and at harvest time was as high as the wheat dressed 
with guano. The nitrate of soda employed in this experiment 
was very pure, as will be seen by the subjoined analysis : — 
Composition of Nitrate of Soda. 
Moisture , I'ST 
Pure nitrate of soda 95'(i8 
Chloride of sodium '79 
Sulphate of soda 1'17 
Sand -49 
100-00 
Plot III. — Top-dressed, March 22nd, with nitrate of soda and 
salt, at the rate of 180 lbs. of nitrate of soda and 1| cwt. of 
salt per acre, cost 1/. 12s. ^d. per acre. 
The remarks made with respect to Plot II. appl}' equally well 
to this plot. There was no visible difference in the appearance 
and general character of the wheat on Plots II. and 111., and at 
harvest time it was impossible to say which of the two would 
yield the heavier crop. 
Many persons who passed by the wheat-field, which could be 
overlooked from the turnj)ike-road, were astonished at the dark- 
green coloured wheat on the two plots upon which nitrate of 
soda was put. In comparison wiJi the surrounding wheat, which 
had received no top-dressing, the two J-acre plots looked as if a 
painter had put an extra layer of green colour on the wheat. The 
common salt used on Plot III. was ordinary agricultural salt. 
Plot IV. — Top-dressed, March 22nd, with wheat-manure 
(Proctor's), at the rate of 4 cwts. per acre, cost IZ. 12s. 6c?. 
per acre. 
The effects produced by this top-dressing were not so soon 
visible as those produced by nitrate of soda. However, in less 
than a fortnight the wheat was decidedly improved, and, as far 
as appearance went, kept pace with the wheat dressed with 
guano. At harvest time it was impossible to say which of the 
Plots, No, I., II., III., or IV,, was the best. An inspection of 
the following analysis will show that the wheat-manure used on 
this and following plot was an excellent fertilizer. It will be 
noticed that it contained a large quantity of nitrogen, partly as 
sulphate of ammonia, partly in the shape of soluble and in- 
soluble nitrogenized organic matter. In addition to these 
important constituents, it contained both soluble and insoluble 
phosphates, as well as common salt, gypsum, and a few other 
matters of less value. 
