Report of Experiments on the Growth of Wheat. 129 
heavy showers, and about an average fall of rain during the 
month. June was upon the whole very fine, dry, and hot, with 
some heavy thunder-showers, but much less than the average 
amount of rain. In July there was much more rain, and the 
weather, though variable, was still upon the whole fine and hot. 
August and September were very fine, with much less than 
the average fall of rain. Throughout the quarter ending with 
September, as also in June, the degree of humidity of the atmo- 
sphere ranged notably lower than usual. 
There was, therefore, during the winter, spring, and summer 
of 1857-8, upon the whole, much less than the usual amount of 
rain ; though in February, April, May, and Jul)', there were fair 
amounts. The air was also generally less humid than usual 
throughout the summer. The temperature, top, was generally 
above the average throughout the spring and summer months, 
whilst June was unusually hot. 
Early in the summer the appearance of the wheat-plant was 
generally that of great luxuriance, promising a bulky crop. Owing 
to the prevailing dry and warm weather of June the harvest was 
very early, and the months of August and September were favour- 
able both as to dryness and temperature. The reports indicated 
a crop fully if not above the average, though by no means equal 
to the extraordinary one of the immediately preceding season. * 
The following Table shows the character of the results in the 
experimental field : — 
Table XV. — Summary of the Eesults of the Fifteenth Season, 1857-8. 
Manures. 
(Quantities per Acre.) 
Prodi/ce per Acre, &c. 
Dressed Corn. 
Total 
Com. 
Straw 
and 
Chaff. ; 
Quantity. 
Weight 
per 
Bushel. 
400 lbs. Ainmonia-salts alone (Plot 10a) .. 
Mixed Mineral Manure alone (mean of Plots 5<(\ 
and Sty J 
Mixed Mineral Manure, and 100 lbs. Amnionia-1 
salts (mean of Plots 21 and 22) J 
Mixed Mineral Manure, and 200 lbs. Ammonia-) 
Mixed Mineral Manure, and 400 lbs. Ammonia-) 
Mixed Mineral Manure, and 600 lbs. Ammonia- 1 
Mixed Mineral Manure, and 800 lbs. Ammonia-) 
salts (mean of Plots 16a and 166) / 
Bush. Pks. 
18 0 
38 3\ 
22 3£ 
18 3f 
23 1 
28 31 
39 0J 
41 3\ 
41 3^ 
lbs. 
60- 4 
62-6 
59-6 
61- 4 
61- 5 
6T1 
62- 1 
61- 8 
62- 1 
lbs. 
1141 
2512 
1439 
1207 
1493 
1834 
2490 
2678 
2710 
lbs. 
1670 
3837 
2130 
1588 
2277 
2645 
4029 
4667 
4805 
VOL. XXV. K 
