ROOT EXPERIMENTS. These experiments had but one object in view, namely, how far increasing the amount of superphosphate would correspondingly increase the crop. The results obtained by Mr. Plumbe, of Ashton Fields, as embodied in Table XII., show that when 3, 5, and 7 cwts. of Lawes' superphosphate were respectively applied, no marked increase in crop was obtained by using the larger quantities of manure. This result was on the whole borne out by similar experiments carried out upon Earl Bathurst's home farm in 1868, although the results obtained during such a dry season upon swedes could not alone be considered satisfactory as confirmatory evidence they have a certain value. In 1867 (Table XIV.) I tried the effect of heavy dressings upon swedes, and although I obtained a better result from 6 cwts. of superphosphate per acre than from 5 cwts., the crop produced by 8 cwts. of superphosphate was no better than that grown by 6 cwts. : TABLE XIII.-SWEDE EXPERIMENTS, 1869-MR. PLUMBE'S RESULTS. TABLE XIV.-RESULT OF EXPERIMENTS UPON SWEDES, 1867-ROYAL AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE EXPERIMENTAL FARM. APPENDIX I. The manures used in the above experiments were analysed in the College laboratory by Professor Church. The nitrate of soda was a very good sample, containing nearly 95 per cent. of the pure salt, as will be seen by the following statement: Analysis of the Lawes' superphosphate showed its composition to be as follows: These two manures were applied, in four different proportions and combinations, to the wheat crops experimented upon : 1cwt. nitrate of soda per acre. 3 cwts. nitrate of soda per acre. } 3 cwts. nitrate of soda 6 cwts. superphosphate} per acre. Having thus obtained the analytical data, it is easy to estimate the percentage of the chief elements of plant-food in the manures, which appear in the increased yield caused by their application. In the following table Professor Church has regarded the experiments from this point of view, and with reference to one manurial element only, namely, nitrogen. The table, for the most part, explains itself, but one or two points may be premised. For full details as to the period and mode of application, reference must be made to the earlier portion of this Report, and such circumstances ought certainly to be taken into account in examining the leading results of the applications of manure used. The last column requires a word of comment, but may, perhaps, be best explained by taking as an example the first line of the table. 168 lbs. of nitrate of soda per acre gave an increased yield of corn, as the average of eleven plots, of 416-5 lbs. This amount of grain contained 8.33 lbs. of nitrogen (= 2 per cent.), while the manure employed contained 26·1 lbs. Thus the proportion of nitrogen in manure to that in the increase of grain may be thus represented : : The corresponding percentage proportions, thus calculated, are given in the last column: The best results in this series are those obtained by the application of 1 cwt. nitrate with 3 cwts. superphosphate, in one case an amount of nitrogen equal to two-thirds of that in the manure appearing in the increase of grain, leaving out of calculation that in the excess of straw produced. It is only when an amount of nitrogen equal to 23 per cent. of that in the nitrate applied appears in the increase of grain that the cost of the manure is defrayed, supposing the nitrate is bought at 16s. 6d. per cwt., and the grain sells at 5s. per bushel. So if 14 cwt. of nitrate has been employed, about 5 bushels of extra grain are demanded; the worst of the above results shows just 7 bushels. APPENDIX II. It has been observed that where wheat is allowed abundance of room, the growing plant speedily assumes a dark-green vigorous appearance, very similar to that of wheat manured with some highly nitrogenous manure. This effect is not confined to any particular season, but may be seen wherever thin sown can be contrasted with thicker sown wheat. This similarity in appearance between a thin plant of wheat and a crop which has been top-dressed with nitrate of soda suggests the idea that in both cases the improvement is due to a more liberal supply of nitrogen to the individual plants. Is it not also worthy of note, that both thin planted crops and those top-dressed with nitrate of soda are more subject to the attacks of parasitic fungi than crops more ordinarily cultivated? So much so is this the case that many farmers object to top-dress for fear of inducing mildew, while others shun thin seeding for a similar reason. The relations of thin sown crops to the amount of nitrogen contained in the grain was strikingly exemplified in 1868. Professor Church, in Vol. I., 'Practice with Science,' called attention to the amount of nitrogen found in different samples of wheat. On examining almost any variety of this grain, it was observed that the sample might be readily divided into three parts: the first containing all the horny or translucent ("strong") grains; the second, those of a medium appearance; and lastly, a class of softer, opaque, dull-looking grains. Analysis of each section of a sample thus divided showed that the amount of nitrogen contained in the translucent grains considerably exceeded that found in the opaque grains; and this was rendered the more striking when the nitrogen was calculated into its equivalent of albuminoids. The following table, from Professor Church's paper on this subject, is illustrative of the above fact : In examining the various samples of wheat grown during both the past season and in 1868, under the different cultivations pursued, a marked difference was observed in their apparent quality. This was especially the case in comparing wheats which had been wide spaced with those grown under more ordinary circumstances. This difference was chiefly owing to the much larger proportion of horny or translucent grains in those plots which had been allowed a freer circulation of air. A simple analysis was made by taking three portions of 100 seeds each from the produce of each plot, and counting the number of translucent, opaque, and medium grains in each portion. The accompanying table will show the average of the three determinations in the case of all the plots subjected to this examination. PERCENTAGE OF TRANSLUCENT, MEDIUM, AND OPAQUE GRAINS. The most striking fact to be observed in examining the foregoing table is the very much larger proportion of translucent grain in the widely drilled than in the ordinary wheat. The "tufted" plots especially seemed to indicate the much larger proportion of nitrogen that wheat, under such cultivation, is capable of absorbing from the air and soil than when under more ordinary conditions of growth. It may further be observed that space, and not the forking of the land, is the cause of this increase in the proportion of horny grains, the highest amount being found in the samples of wheat from 2, 5, 6, and 7, none of which were subjected to interculture. Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, June, 1870. XVI.-On the Dairy-Factories of Sweden. By M. JUHLINDANNFELT, Superintendent of the Experimental Farm and Agricultural College at Stockholm. [In Two Letters to the Editor.] PREVIOUS to laying before you the information which I have obtained, at your request, on the subject of Swedish dairyfactories, I must in a few words direct your attention to several circumstances, peculiar to our country, which exercise an essential influence on its farming, and especially on the keeping of cattle. I take the liberty, first, to refer to a short description of the agriculture of Sweden, which I have furnished at the request of my friend Mr. James Howard, and which you will find in No. 1985 of the Mark Lane Express.' You will see from it that the greater part of the land of Sweden is divided into small farms, which are cultivated by the peasants owning them, and on which the number of cows kept for breeding, or for the production of milk, seldom exceeds ten or fifteen. The quantity of milk obtained on these farms is therefore small, especially as the animals generally receive insufficient nourishment during the long winter. One consequence has been that, as large quantities of milk are indispensable for a regular and rational method of dairying, this branch of husbandry has not until lately been developed to any considerable degree, although the climate, the nature of the country, and the manner of living of its inhabitants, are all favourable to its advancement. In order to further this object, various measures have been taken during the last ten years, both by the Government and by agricultural societies, and efforts have been directed towards drawing the attention of the small farmer to the advantages to be gained by the application of the idea of association to this branch of husbandry. These endeavours are, however, of too recent a date to have as yet produced any very obvious results; but from what has already been gained, it is evident that the dairy-factories constitute the most powerful means of obtaining on small farms a considerable revenue from dairy-produce. The price which the milk has realized by such associations greatly exceeds what the small farmers-especially those in the northern provinces-have hitherto been able to obtain for it single-handed. The system is therefore gaining ground daily, and is exercising a beneficial influence on this class of farmers, as well as stimulating a more careful treatment of the cattle; and this influence is already reacting in a salutary manner on other branches of agriculture. The modes in which dairy-factories have hitherto been arranged varies in different places. In some districts a person |