304 The Woburn Field Experiments , 1905 and 1906. 
a very even, though small, grain, with much strength ; the 
English wheat had, however, been rather better harvested, and 
was priced at the same figure (29s. Qd. per quarter). But it 
should be mentioned that when first threshed out and offered 
as seed, the English wheat was priced at 30s. per quarter, and 
the Canadian at 35s. 
In 1906 the English wheat was priced at 27s., and the 
Canadian at 28s. 6d. per quarter, the English being considered 
a good average sample, but distinctly inferior, both in colour 
and strength, to the Canadian. The much higher produce of 
the English wheat, whether the Canadian be spring or autumn 
sown, makes it clearly, however, the more remunerative ; and 
it would seem that in the spring-sowing of Canadian wheat 
there is the most likelihood of its successful use, especially 
when, from land not being in good condition for autumn 
sowing, it is difficult to get wheat in early. 
Soot as a Top-Dressing for Wheat ( Great Hill) 1905. 
In the county of Bedford soot is extensively used and 
is a favourite dressing for wheat, more particularly on the 
heavier lands. At the same time soot is a very variable 
article, and not infrequently is adulterated. It was thought 
well to make an experiment with it at the Woburn Farm, 
and to see, especially, whether the large quantities commonly 
employed are justified, or whether, if good soot be obtainable, 
smaller amounts will not do as well. 
The soot used cost 50s. per ton and gave on analysis : — 
Per cent. 
Nitrogen ........ P56 
Equal to ammonia ...... 5'58 
The soot was used at two different rates, viz., 40 bushels 
per acre, and 20 bushels per acre. The soot weighed 28 lb. 
per bushel, so that the dressing of 20 bushels came to 5 cwt. 
per acre, costing 12 s.6<7., the 40 bushels costing 25s. In order 
to get an idea whether any value attached to the soot beyond 
that of its containing a certain amount of nitrogen, a compara- 
tive test was made with a plot on which cwt. to the acre of 
nitrate of soda was used, this quantity containing an amount 
of nitrogen equal to that in 20 bushels of the soot. The cost 
of this was 17s. 3d. 
“ Square Head’s Master ” wheat was drilled (9 pecks per 
acre) on October 25-26, 1904, and the soot was applied on 
March 3, 1905. The nitrate of soda was put on in two 
dressings, the first on March 23, and the second on May 13. 
All the dressed plots soon began to look better than the 
unmanured one, but between them there was no great 
difference noticeable; the heavier dressing of soot (plot 1) 
