130 Report of Experiments on tlie Growth of Wheat. 
With the moderate dressings the quantity of gross produce per 
acre (corn and straw together) was rather below the average of 
the 12 years; but with the higher manuring it was generally 
equal, and sometimes above it. The quantity of straw was pretty 
uniformly below the average under parallel conditions of ma- 
nuring ; but the produce of grain was generally above it, and the 
more so the higher the manuring. The proportion of corn to 
straw was, therefore, above the average, and the weight per 
bushel of dressed corn was also rather hig-h. 
Thus, so far as the results in the experimental field are con- 
cerned, the season of 1858 was, upon the whole, favourable to 
high proportion and good quality of grain, under the influence 
of somewhat liberal manuring. There was, however, a very 
marked decline in the productiveness of a given amount of 
ammonia where the excessive amounts of it were employed, 
indicating a somewhat easily reached- limit of the productive 
capabilities of the season. 
Sixteenth Season, 1858-9. 
During October, November, and the first half of December 
(1858) there was very little rain, and during November and the 
early part of December the weather was very cold. The remainder 
of December, and January and February (1859) were very fine 
and mild ; March was also upon the whole mild, but with more 
rain ; in April, too, a good deal of rain fell, and the latter part of 
the month was stormy, wet, and cold. May began with cold dry 
easterly winds, then came a good deal of rain, succeeded by fine 
and hot weather. During June there were several heavy thunder- 
storms, a great deal of rain fell, and the air was more humid 
than usual, though there was also a deal of fine warm weather. 
July was upon the whole fine and unusually hot, but there were 
several severe thunder-storms at the beginning and about the 
middle of the month. August was rather unsettled, but for the 
most part warm, with a good deal of rain ; September Avas also 
unsettled, and cold, with an excessive amount of rain. In July 
the dew point ranged high, but the temperature relatively higher ; 
and throughout the quarter ending with September the degree 
gf humidity of the air was below the average. 
Thus, throughout the winter of 1858-9 there was very little 
rain, and, with the exception of the early part, the weather was 
very mild. In April there was a full supply of rain, May a 
deficiency, June a considerable excess, July a moderate amount, 
August a full, and September an excessive fall ; whilst June and 
July were considerably above the average temperature — July 
more especially, bringing the wheat rapidly forward ; though, 
