104 BULLETIN OF THE BUSSEY INSTITUTION. 
The barley crop seemed to suffer also, in many instances, from dirt 
thus spattered upon it, as well as from the frequent wettings to which 
it was subjected. The well-known objection to growing any grain 
crop continuously upon old land filled with the seeds of weeds was 
_ conspicuously exhibited during the latter part of this season. Natu- 
rally enough, during the term of frequent showers many weeds grew 
upon all the barley plots, particularly upon those to which farm or 
stable manure had been applied. Since it would have been impossible 
to remove these weeds without disturbing some of the barley plants, 
and so destroying the comparative value of the experiments, they 
were, of course, left undisturbed until the time of harvest. It should 
be understood that, with the exception perhaps of the plots dressed with 
dung, all the barley crops were equally affected by the plague of weeds, 
and that consequently the comparative value of the results obtained 
was little, if at all, influenced by this cause. Indeed, I saw no reason 
for believing that even the absolute yield of either of the crops had 
been lessened to any material extent by the presence of the weeds. 
For that matter, the weeds were neither very vigorous nor very 
abundant until after the barley had arrived at a stage of growth when 
the fate of each particular crop was as good as settled. In comparison 
with the inclement weather to which the barley was exposed, and the 
insufficient supplies of food that were given it, the weeds were but a 
trifling encumbrance. 
The ruta-baga crop was practically a total failure, owing to the use 
of bad seed (obtained from a dealer of excellent repute).* Since the 
badness of the seed would be likely to affect all parts of the field alike, 
the crops harvested from the several squares were all weighed, and the 
results are tabulated below; but, as was the case with the dried-up 
crop of 1871, very little importance is to be attached to the results 
obtained with this plant. 
The weights, in kilogrammes, of fertilizers used and of crops har- 
vested, will appear from the following tables. 
* In a special experiment made in the laboratory subsequent to the planting, to 
test this seed, a large proportion of it failed to germinate. 
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