314 
MESSRS. J. B. LAWES AND J. H. GILBERT ON THE RESULTS OF 
preceding years, however (1856-57-58), it received sawdust, at the rate of 2000 lbs. 
per acre per annum, the application being made to test the validity of Liebig’s 
assertion that it produced great effects by virtue of the solvent action, upon the 
mineral constituents of the soil, of the carbonic acid which it yields in its decomposition. 
Nevertheless, and notwithstanding that the sawdust annually applied contained nitro¬ 
gen equal to between 4 lbs. and 5 lbs. per acre, the result was even less produce than 
without manure in each of the three seasons. 
The following table shows the average annual yield of hay, nitrogen, and mineral 
matter, on plot 4-1, over the first 7, the next 10, and the total period of 17 years, 
from 1859-1875 inclusive, by the annual application to it of superphosphate of lime 
alone; and for comparison there are also given the results, over the same periods, 
without manure, and with the mixed mineral manure (including potass). 
Table VII.—Average, per acre per annum, by Superphosphate of Lime alone ; 
Plot 4-1. 
Average per acre per 
annum. 
Plot 3. 
Without 
manure. 
Plot 7. 
Mixed 
mineral 
manure. 
Plot 4-1. 
Super¬ 
phosphate 
lime. 
Plot 4-1. 
+ or — 
plpt 3. 
Plot 4-1. 
+ or — 
plot 7. 
Hat. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
First period, 7 years, 1859-] 865 . . . . 
2495 
3828 
2732 
+ 237 
-1096 
Second period, 10 years, 1866-1875 . . . 
2236 
4118 
2384 
+ 148 
-1734 
Total period, 17 years, 1859-1875 . . . . 
2343 
3999 
2527 
+ 184 
-1472 
Second period, per cent. + or — first period 
-10-4 
+ 7'6 
-12-7 
Nitrogen. 
First period, 7 years, 1859-1865 .... 
33 8 
54-5 
36-3 
+ 2-5 
-18-2 
Second period, 10 years, 1866-1875 . . . 
30-9 
58-0 
31-6 
+ 0-7 
-26-4 
Total period, 17 years, 1859-1875. . . . 
32-1 
56-5 
33-5 
+ 1-4 
-230 
Second period, per cent. + or — first period 
-8'6 
+ 6-4 
-129 
Mineral Matter (Ash). 
First period, 7 years, 1859-1865 . . . . 
146-5 
247 S 
170-8 
+ 24-3 
- 77-0 
Second period, 10 years, 1866-1875 . . . 
126-1 
261-6 
140-4 
+ 14-3 
-121-2 
Total period, 17 years, 1859-1875. . . . 
1345 
255 9 
152-9 
+ 18-4 
-1030 
Second period, per cent. + or — first period 
-13-9 
+ 5-6 
-17-8 
Thus, over both periods, the plot with the superphosphate gave more produce than 
that without manure; but the increase was only small, and averaged less over the 
second period than over the first, whilst the actual produce per acre declined more 
