“It would have been better,” said the Deacon. “to have sown it in autumn with the other manures.”
“The Deacon is right,” said I, “but it so happens that the next year and the year after, the saltwasapplied at the same time as the other manures. It gave an increase of 94 lbs. of grain and 61 lbs. of straw in 1851, but the following year the same quantity of salt used on the same plot did more harm than good.”
Before we leave the results of this year, it should be observed that on 8a, 5,000 lbs. of cut straw and chaff were used per acre. I do not recollect seeing anything in regard to it. And yet the result was very remarkable—so much so indeed, that it is a matter of regret that the experiment was not repeated.
This 5,000 lbs. of straw and chaff gave an increase of more than 10 bushels per acre over the continuously unmanured plot.
“Good,” said the Deacon, “I have always told you that you under-estimated the value of straw, especially in regard to itsmechanicalaction.”
I did not reply to this remark of the good Deacon. I have never doubted the good effects of anything that lightens up a clay soil and renders it warmer and more porous. I suppose the great benefit derived from this application of straw must be attributed to its ameliorating action on the soil. The 5,000 lbs. of straw and chaff produced a crop within nearly 3 bushels per acre of the plot manured every year with 14 tons of barn-yard manure.
“I am surprised,” said the Doctor, “that salt did no good. Ihave seen many instances in which it has had a wonderful effect on wheat.”
“Yes,” said I, “and our experienced friend, John Johnston, is very decidedly of the opinion that its use is highly profitable. He sows a barrel of salt per acre broadcast on the land at the time he sows his wheat, and I have myself seen it produce a decided improvement in the crop.”
We have now given the results of the firsteightyears of the experiments. From this time forward, thesame manureswere used year after year on the same plot.
The results are given in the accompanying tables for the following twelve years—harvests for 1852-53-54-55-56-57-58-59-60-61-62 and 1863. Such another set of experiments are not to be found in the world, and they deserve and will receive the careful study of every intelligent American farmer.
“I am with you there,” said the Deacon. “You seem to think that I do not appreciate the labors of scientific men. I do. Such experiments as these we are examining command the respect of every intelligent farmer. I may not fully understand them, but I can see clearly enough that they are of great value.”
Table IX.—Manuresper Acre per Annum (with the exceptions explained in the Notes on p. 203), for 12 Years in succession—namely, for the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th Seasons: that is, for the crops of Harvests 1852-53-54-55-56-57-58-59-60-61-62 and 1863.*
FMFarm-yard Manure.
CSCommon Salt.
SPSulphate of Potass.1
SSSulphate of Soda.1
SMgSulphate of Magnesia.1
SPLSuperphosphate of Lime.
B-ABone-ash.
SAcSulphuric Acid.(Sp. gr. 1.7)
MAcMuriatic Acid.
SAmSulphate of Ammonia.
MAmMuriate of Ammonia.
NSNitrate of Soda.
RCRape-cake.
* For the particulars of the produce of each separate season, see Tables X.-XXI. inclusive.
1. For the16th and succeeding seasons—the sulphate of potass was reduced from 600 to 400 lbs. per acre per annum on Plot 1, and from 300 to 200 lbs. on all the other Plots where it was used; the sulphate of soda from 400 to 200 lbs. on Plot 1, to 100 lbs. on all the Plots on which 200 lbs. had previously been applied, and from 550 to 336½ lbs. (two-thirds the amount) on Plots 12aand 12b; and the sulphate of magnesia from 420 to 280 lbs. (two-thirds the amount) on Plots 14aand 14b.
2.Plot 9a—the sulphates of potass, soda, and magnesia, and the superphosphate of lime, were applied in the 12th and succeeding seasons, but not in the 9th, 10th, and 11th; and the amount of nitrate of soda was for the 9th season only 475 lbs. per acre, and for the 10th and 11th seasons only 275 lbs.
3.Plot 9b—in the 9th season only 475 lbs. of nitrate of soda were applied.
4.Common salt—not applied after the 10th season.
5.Plots 17a and 17b, and 18a and 18b—the manures on these plots alternate: that is, Plots 17 were manured with ammonia-salts in the 9th season; with the sulphates of potass, soda, and magnesia, and superphosphate of lime, in the 10th; ammonia-salts again in the 11th; the sulphates of potass, soda, and magnesia, and superphosphate of lime, again in the 12th, and so on. Plots 18, on the other hand, had the sulphates of potass, soda, and magnesia, and superphosphate of lime, in the 9th season; ammonia-salts in the 10th, and so on, alternately.
Table X.—Produceof the9th Season, 1851-2.Seed(Red Cluster) sown November 7, 1851; Crop cut August 24, 1852.
Table XI.—Produceof the10th Season, 1853.Seed(Red Rostock) sown March 16; Crop cut September 10, and carted September 20, 1853.
Wt/Bu.Weight per Bushel.
C&SCorn and Straw.
Table XII.—Produceof the11th Season, 1853-4.Seed(Red Rostock) sown November 12, 1853; Crop cut August 21, and carted August 31, 1854.
Table XIII.—Produceof the12th Season, 1854-5.Seed(Red Rostock) sown November 9, 1854; Crop cut August 26, and carted September 2, 1855.
Wt/Bu.Weight per Bushel.
C&SCorn and Straw.
Table XIV.—Produceof the13th Season, 1855-6.Seed(Red Rostock) sown November 13, 1855; Crop cut August 26, and carted September 3, 1856.
Table XV.—Produceof the14th Season, 1856-7.Seed(Red Rostock) sown November 6, 1856; Crop cut August 13, and carted August 22, 1857.
Wt/Bu.Weight per Bushel.
C&SCorn and Straw.
Table XVI.—Produceof the15th Season, 1857-8.Seed(Red Rostock) sown November 3 and 11, 1857; Crop cut August 9, and carted August 20, 1858.
Table XVII.—Produceof the16th Season, 1858-9.Seed(Red Rostock) sown November 4, 1858; Crop cut August 4, and carted August 20, 1859.
Wt/Bu.Weight per Bushel.
C&SCorn and Straw.
Table XVIII.—Produceof the17th Season, 1859-60.Seed(Red Rostock) sown November 17, 1859; Crop cut September 17 and 19, and carted October 5, 1858.
Table XIX.—Produceof the18th Season, 1860-1.Seed(Red Rostock) sown November 5, 1860; Crop cut August 20, and carted August 27, 1861.
Wt/Bu.Weight per Bushel.
C&SCorn and Straw.
Table XX.—Produceof the19th Season, 1861-2.Seed(Red Rostock) sown October 25, 1861; Crop cut August 29, and carted September 12, 1862.
Table XXI.—Produceof the20th Season, 1862-3.Seed(Red Rostock) sown November 17, 1862; Crop cut August 10, and carted August 18, 1863.
Wt/Bu.Weight per Bushel.
C&SCorn and Straw.
Theninthseason (1851-2), was unusually cold in June and wet in August. It will be seen that the wheat, both in quantity and quality, is the poorest since the commencement of the experiments. The unmanured plot gave less than 14 bushels of dressed grain per acre; the plot with barn-yard manure, less than 28 bushels, and the best yield in the whole series was not quite 29 bushels per acre, and only weighed 55 lbs. per bushel. On the same plot, the year before, with precisely the same manure, the yield was nearly 37 bushels per acre, and the weight per bushel, 63½ lbs. So much for a favorable and an unfavorable season.
Thetenthseason (1852-3), was still more unfavorable. The autumn of 1852 was so wet that it was impossible to work the land and sow the wheat until the 16th of March 1853.
You will see that the produce on the unmanured plot was less than 6 bushels per acre. With barn-yard manure, 19 bushels, and with a heavy dressing of ammonia-salts and minerals, not quite 26 bushels per acre. With a heavy dressing of superphosphate, not quite 9¼ bushels per acre, and with a full dressing of mixed mineral manures and superphosphate, 10 bushels per acre.
The weight per bushel on the unmanured plot was 45 lbs.; with mixed mineral manures, 48½ lbs.; with ammonia-salts alone, 48½ lbs.; with barn-yard manure, 51 lbs.; and with ammonia-salts and mixed mineral manures, 52¼ lbs.
Farmers are greatly dependent on the season, but the good farmer, who keeps up the fertility of his land stands a better chance of making money (or of losing less), than the farmer who depends on the unaided products of the soil. The one gets 6 bushels per acre, and 1,413 lbs. of straw of very inferior quality; the other gets 20 to 26 bushels per acre, and 5,000 lbs. of straw. And you must recollect that in an unfavorable season we are pretty certain to get high prices.
Theeleventhseason (1853-4,) gives us much more attractive-looking figures! We have over 21 bushels per acre on the plot which has grown eleven crops of wheat in eleven years without any manure.
With barn-yard manure, over 41 bushels per acre. With ammonia-salts alone (17a), 45¾ bushels. With ammonia-salts and mixed minerals, (16b), over 50 bushels per acre, and 6,635 lbs. of straw. A total produce of nearly 5½ tons per acre.
Thetwelfthseason (1854-5), gives us 17 bushels of wheat per acre on the continuously unmanured plot. Over 34½ bushels on the plot manured with barn-yard manure. And I think, for the first time since the commencement of the experiments, this plot producesthe largest yield of any plot in the field. And well it may, for it has now had, in twelve years, 168 tons of barn-yard manure per acre!
Several of the plots with ammonia-salts and mixed minerals, are nearly up to it in grain, and ahead of it in straw.
Thethirteenthseason (1855-6), gives 14½ bushels on the unmanured plot; over 36¼ bushels on the plot manured with barn-yard manure; and over 40 bushels on 8a, dressed with 600 lbs. ammonia-salts and mixed mineral manures. It will be noticed that 800 lbs. ammonia-salts does not give quite as large a yield this year as 600 lbs. I suppose 40 bushels per acre was all that theseasonwas capable of producing, and an extra quantity of ammonia did no good. 400 lbs. of ammonia-salts, on 7a, produced 37¼ bushels per acre, and 800 lbs. on 16b, only 37¾ bushels. That extra half bushel of wheat was produced at considerable cost.
Thefourteenthseason (1856-7), gives 20 bushels per acre on the unmanured plot, and 41 bushels on the plot with barn-yard manure. Mixed mineral manures alone on 5agives nearly 23 bushels per acre. Mixed mineral manures and 200 lbs. ammonia-salts, on 6a, give 35¼ bushels. In other words the ammonia gives us over 12 extra bushels of wheat, and 1,140 lbs. of straw. Mineral manures and 400 lbs. ammonia-salts, on 7b, give 46¼ bushels per acre. Mineral manures and 600 lbs. ammonia-salts, on 8b, give nearly 49 bushels per acre. Mineral manures and 800 lbs. of ammonia-salts, on 16b, give 50 bushels per acre, and 4,703 lbs. of straw.
“This exceedingly heavy manuring,” said the Deacon, “does not pay. For instance,
The Deacon is right, and Mr. Lawes and Dr. Gilbert call especial attention to this point. The 200 lbs. of ammonia-salts contain about 50 lbs. of ammonia, and the 400 lbs., 100 lbs. of ammonia. And as I have said, 100 lbs. of ammonia per acre is an unusually heavy dressing. It is as much ammonia as is contained in 1,000 lbs. of average Peruvian guano. We will recur to this subject.
Thefifteenthseason (1857-8,) gives a yield of 18 bushels of wheat per acre on the continuously unmanured plot, and nearly 39 bushels on the plot continuously manured with 14 tons of barnyard manure. Mixed mineral manures on 5aand 5b, give a mean yield of less than 19 bushels per acre.
Mixed mineral manures and 100 lbs. ammonia-salts, on plots 21 and 22, give 23¼ bushels per acre. In other words:
25 lbs. ammonia (100 lbs. ammonia-salts),
50 lbs. ammonia (200 lbs. ammonia-salts),
100 lbs. ammonia (400 lbs. ammonia-salts),
150 lbs. ammonia (600 lbs. ammonia-salts),
200 lbs. ammonia (800 lbs. ammonia-salts),
“It takes,” said the Deacon, “about 5 lbs. of ammonia to produce a bushel of wheat. And according to this, 500 lbs. of Peruvian guano, guaranteed to contain 10 per cent of ammonia, would give an increase of 10 bushels of wheat.”
“This is a very interesting matter,” said I, “but we will not discuss it at present. Let us continue the examination of the subject. I do not propose to make many remarks on the tables. You must study them for yourself. I have spent hours and days and weeks making and pondering over these tables. The more you study them the more interesting and instructive they become.”
Thesixteenthseason (1858-9), gives us a little over 18¼ bushels on the unmanured plot. On the plot manured with 14 tons farmyard manure, 36¼ bushels; and this is the highest yield this season in the wheat-field. Mixed mineral manures alone, (mean of plot 5aand 5b), give 20½ bushels.
25 lbs. ammonia (100 lbs. ammonia-salts), and mixed minerals, give 25¼ bushels, or anincreaseover minerals alone of 4¾ bushels.
The season was an unfavorable one for excessive manuring. It was too wet and the crops of wheat when highly manured were much laid. The quality of the grain was inferior, as will be seen from the light weight per bushel.
Theseventeenthseason (1859-60,) gives less than 13 bushels per acre on the unmanured plot; and 32¼ bushels on the plot manured with 14 tons farm-yard manure. This season (1860), was a miserable year for wheat in England. It was both cold and wet. Mixed mineral manures, on plots 5aand 5b, gave nearly 16 bushels per acre. 25 lbs. ammonia, in addition to the above, gave less than 15 bushels. In other words it gave noincreaseat all.
It was a poor year for the wheat-grower, and that, whether he manured excessively, liberally, moderately, or not at all.
“I do not quite see that,” said the Deacon, “the farm-yard manure gave anincreaseof nearly 20 bushels per acre. And the quality of the grain must have been much better, as it weighed 3½ lbs. per bushel more than the plot unmanured. If the wheat doubled in price, as it ought to do in such a poor year, I do not see but that the good farmer who had in previous years made his land rich, would come out ahead.”
“Good for the Deacon,” said I. “‘Is Saul also among the prophets?’” If the Deacon continues to study these experiments much longer, we shall have him advocating chemical manures and high farming!
Theeighteenthseason (1860-1,) gave less than 11½ bushels per acre on the unmanured plot; and nearly 35 bushels on the manured plot.
Thenineteenthseason (1861-2,) gave 16 bushels per acre on the unmanured plot, and over 38¼ bushels on the plot manured with farm-yard manure.