134 
Report of Experiments on the Growth of Wheat. 
part of January (1861) were extremely severe, many evergreens 
of long standing being killed during this period. The remainder 
of January, and February, were much milder, with comparatively 
little rain. There was, nevertheless, a good deal of cold wind 
during . the latter month, as also pretty continuously through 
March, April, and the beginning, of May, during which periods 
the rain-fall was below the average. The remainder of May was 
dry and fine, and even hot. June commenced with cold wind and 
rain, followed by an interval of fine and hot weather, and then a 
good deal of rain to the end of the month. July was generally 
seasonable as to temperature, with less than an average of rain. 
At the beginning of August some heavy rains fell, but, upon the 
whole, the month was very dry, fine, and favourable ; and the fine 
weather continued, but with rather low temperature, and a good 
deal of wind, through the greater part of September, though 
towards the end of the month a great deal of rain fell. In June, 
both the dew point and degree of humidity of the air ranged 
high ; but in July, August, and September, they were not far 
from the average. 
The winter of 1860-61 was thus unusually severe, and the 
autumn-sown wheat-plant was reported to have suffered con- 
siderably. The spring of 1861 was generally dry, with a good 
deal of cold wind ; but plentiful rains, and some hot weather, in 
June, brought the growing crops. rapidly forward. July, August, 
and the greater part of September were, upon the whole, season- 
able as to temperature, and degree of humidity of the atmo- 
sphere, with less than the usual amount of rain. 
The wheat- crop was reported to be generally below the average 
in quantity per acre, the result being due chiefly to the loss of 
plant during the winter. It also suffered a good deal from rust, 
but benefitted much by the favourable weather of the latter part 
of the summer and of the autumn ; fair average, and, in many 
cases, good quality, compensating somewhat for deficiency of 
quantity. 
In produce of grain per acre, the unmanured, and the deficiently 
manured plots, were considerably below the average of the 12 
years ; but the more highly manured ones, though still below, 
were much more nearly up to the average, and the weight per 
bushel of dressed corn Was throughout rather over the average. 
The produce of straw was also considerably below the ave- 
rage. 
The experimental crop was, therefore, upon the whole, defi- 
cient both in quantity of total produce, and yield of grain per 
acre, but the quality of the latter was fully equal to the average. 
The crop was, however, in all respects superior to that of 1860 ; 
