310 
Experiments upon WJieat, Barley, and Sioedes. 
2 plots dressed with IJ cwt. of nitrate of soda, applied in 
two equal portions, the last dressing distributed one 
month after the first. 
2 unmanured plots for comparison. 
Several plots on the College Experimental Farm were, in addi- 
tion to the above, dressed with similar applications, double the 
amounts per acre being employed. 
In these experiments the following questions were put to the 
soil : — 
1st. What is the measurable effect of nitrate of soda in 
increasing the wheat crop ? 
2nd. What increase is obtained by supplementing a dressing 
of nitrate of soda with superphosphate ? 
3rd. How does the period of application affect the result of 
a certain dressing ? 
4th. May nitrate of soda be applied at two periods, instead 
of at once, with advantage ? 
5th. Is a heavy dressing, say of 3 cwt. of nitrate of soda, 
more effective than a dressing of cwt. ? 
These questions, to some extent, have been answered, in some 
cases clearly and definitely, in others with more or less uncer- 
tainty. Even the most definite answers must only be looked 
upon as correct for a particular soil and season, and therefore a 
repetition of some, if not all, the experiments is desirable. 
Nitrate of Soda Residts- — Table III. shows the main results 
obtained upon the Oakley Park Home Farm. The plots were 
made ^'^ acre in extent, and each application of manure was 
repeated on a duplicate space. The greatest pains were taken to 
obtain absolute correctness in measuring the land, weighing the 
manures, harvesting and threshing the produce. The corn was 
cut by hand, taken to the barn when dry, and immediately 
threshed. A list of the plots has already been given. Tlie most 
important column in the accompanying table has reference to the 
amount of increase per 100 lbs. of nitrate of soda used per acre. 
It will be seen that 1^ cwt. of nitrate of soda was followed by an 
increase of 220 lbs. of wheat per 100 lbs., while an application of 
1^ cwt. of the salt caused an increase of 178 lbs. of wheat per 
100 lbs. of nitrate used, thus indicating the greater effect of the 
heavier dressing. Glancing at Table VIII., showing the results ob- 
tained on the College Experimental Farm with the same fertilizer, 
it will be seen that 1G6"G, 280, and 309 lbs. respectively represent 
the amounts of increase per acre obtained per 100 lbs. of nitrate 
when the dressing was at the rate of 108 lbs. per acre ; the average 
of these three being 252 lbs. for every 100 lbs. of nitrate of soda 
used. In close proximity with these were three plots, manured 
with 
