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XIV. — Experiments with Salt and other Manures upon Oats, 
Barley, and Wheat. By John Hannam. 
[From an ' Esssay on Manures,' to whicli a prize of 50/. was awarded by the Royal 
Highland and Agricultural Society.] 
Experiments on Oats. 
I, — Experiment on the actual and comparative effects upon the 
Oat crop of Nitrate of Potash, Nitrate of Soda and Salt 
(mixed). Salt (only), and Rape-dust. 
Details. — Soil — thin limestone, worth 20s. per acre rental — 
exposed to the north. Prior crops — harley, (after turnips, eaten 
on,) seeds, (pasture.) tvheat, (rape-dusted). 
Management. — Hopetoun oats, drilled April 4, 1842, and the 
following tillages applied : — 
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
Nit. Soda 
Nit. of Pot- 
Nothing. 
Common 
Rape-Dust. 
and Salt. 
ash. 
Salt. 
No. 1. — Area J- acre, nit. soda st., salt 3 st. applied as a (op-dressing, May 2. 
2. — Ditto nit. of potash '1 st. do. do. 
3. — Ditto nothing. 
4. — Ditto salt 6 stone, applied as a top-dressing, May 2. 
5. — Ditto rape-dust 3 bushels, drilled with the seed, April 4. 
Observations. — Rain coming a few days after the top-dressings 
were applied, the effects upon Nos. 1 and 2 were soon visible in 
. the dark-green hues assumed by the young plant. No. 5 (rape- 
dust) at this time was much a-head of all the other patches, owing 
to the manure having been applied when the grain was drilled. 
During .June Nos. 1 and 2 came up with No. 5, No. 3 (nothing), 
and No. 4 (salt), being much in the background. 
July 1. — A change had now taken place in the respective 
positions, as regarded appearance, of the plots. No. 4 having 
made a push that quite astonished me. At this time they stood 
thus — 
{No. 1, nit. soda and salt — long and rich in foliage. 
2, nit. potash, do. do. partially lodged. 
4, salt — good standing crop. 
2. 5, rape-dust — good. 
3. 3, nothing — full of plant, but shorter in the straw than the other patches. 
In this order they stood up to August 24, when they were 
reaped ; and, after being well fielded, were thrashed immediately, 
with the following results : — 
