“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!
The eighteenth season (1860-1,) gave less than 11½ bushels per acre on the unmanured plot; and nearly 35 bushels on the manured plot.
| The mixed mineral manures, gave nearly … … … | 15½ bushels. |
| The mixed mineral manures, and 25 lbs. ammonia … | 18¼ ” |
| The mixed mineral manures, and 50 lbs. ammonia … | 27¾ ” |
| The mixed mineral manures, and 100 lbs. ammonia … | 35 ” |
| The mixed mineral manures, and 150 lbs. ammonia … | 35 ” |
| The mixed mineral manures, and 200 lbs. ammonia … | 37 ” |
The nineteenth season (1861-2,) gave 16 bushels per acre on the unmanured plot, and over 38¼ bushels on the plot manured with farm-yard manure.
| Mixed mineral manures, gave nearly … … … | 18 bushels per acre. |
| Mixed mineral manures, and 25 lbs. ammonia … | 20¼ ”” |
| Mixed mineral manures, and 50 lbs. ammonia … | 28¼ ”” |
| Mixed mineral manures, and 100 lbs. ammonia … | 36 ”” |
| Mixed mineral manures, and 150 lbs. ammonia … | 39½ ”” |
| Mixed mineral manures, and 200 lbs. ammonia … | 36¼ ”” |
The twentieth season (1862-3), gave 17¼ bushels on the unmanured plot, and 44 bushels per acre on the manured plot.
| Mixed mineral manures alone gave … … … | 19¾ bushels per acre. |
| Mixed mineral manures, and 25 lbs. ammonia … | 28¾ ”” |
| Mixed mineral manures, and 50 lbs. ammonia … | 39¾ ”” |
| Mixed mineral manures, and 100 lbs. ammonia … | 53¾ ”” |
| Mixed mineral manures, and 150 lbs. ammonia … | 55¾ ”” |
| Mixed mineral manures, and 200 lbs. ammonia … | 56 ”” |
When we consider that this is the twentieth wheat-crop in succession on the same land, these figures are certainly remarkable.
“They are so,” said the Deacon, “and what to me is the most surprising thing about the whole matter is, that the plot which has had no manure of any kind for 25 years, and has grown 20 wheat-crops in 20 successive years, should still produce a crop of wheat of 17¼ bushels per acre. Many of our farmers do not average 10 bushels per acre. Mr. Lawes must either have very good land, or else the climate of England is better adapted for wheat-growing than Western New York.”
“I do not think,” said I, “that Mr. Lawes’ land is any better than yours or mine; and I do not think the climate of England is any more favorable for growing wheat without manure than our climate. If there is any difference it is in our favor.”