Experiments upon Wlieat, Barley, and Sivedes. 
317 
same manner as above, were respectively 319, 331, 260, and 
271 lbs., with one exceptional plot, which gave an increase of 
712 lbs. Mr. Ruck is therefore firmly convinced in favour of the 
spring application. Not so Mr. Smith, of Bibury, who singularly, 
but most decidedly, declares in favour of a winter application. In 
similar experiments, which are being carried out during the 
present season, sulphate of ammonia has been substituted for 
nitrate of soda as a better substance for testing the merits between 
the two periods of application. 
Comparison between Nitrate of Soda alone and Nitrate of Soda 
and Superphosphate. — While nitrate of soda gave upon an average 
of two plots an increase of 220 lbs. of grain per lOU lbs. of nitrate 
of soda (the dressing being IJ per cwt.), the addition of 200 lbs. 
of superphosphate reduced the above increase to 180 lbs. ! This 
was the result at Oakley Park. 
On the College Experimental Farm, the average of 6 plots (5 of 
which were spring applications) manured with the mixture gave 
an increase of 2G8 lbs. per 100 lbs. of nitrate employed ; or 
of 303 lbs,, if we take the average of the 5 spring dressed plots; 
the nitrate of soda plots gave a comparable increase of 252 lbs. 
This is not therefore an inducement to add superphosphate to 
nitrate of soda. 
Mr. Ruck obtained an average of 197 lbs. increase from four 
nitrate of soda plots (respectively 176, 212, 188, 212 lbs.), for 
every 100 lbs. of the fertilizer ; and from 6 plots to which the 
addition of superphosphate was made, he obtained a comparable 
increase of 333 lbs. ; but if the one extra good and exceptional 
plot be eliminated from the calculation, an increase of only 
252 lbs. was the result. The difference, according to this latter 
figure, in favour of the additional expense is not satisfactory, 
scarcely coming up to 1 bushel of wheat. Again, the four spring 
dressed plots give an average increase of 295 lbs. per 100 lbs. 
of nitrate. The Bibury land appeared to derive special advan- 
tage from the addition of superphosphate, as is at once seen from 
the table. 
Pecuniary Statement. — In the foregoing remarks the increase 
due to the superphosphate is clearly indicated, when the results 
obtained by nitrate of soda alone are compared with those 
obtained by the same substance associated with superphosphate. 
These two substances were combined in the ratio of 1 to 2 ; 
usually li cwt. of the one and 3 cwts. of the other. It is 
therefore easy to determine whether the additional cost of the 
superphosphate has been remunerative. Lord Bathurst and 
the College at once condemn it, so far as one season's trial can 
decide. 
z 2 
