DR LAWES WHEAT CROP FOR 1879.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 105, 27 May 1880, Page 7 (Supplement)

DR LAWES WHEAT CROP FOR 1879.

The following interesting figures are condensed from a communication by Dr J, B. Lawes, of Rothamsted, England, to the North British Agriculturist. Within his memory England has never before had such a bad wheat crop as that of 1879, certainly not since 1816. Dr Lawes is one. of the most eminent of agricultural experimenters, his resnlts being of peculiar value from their accuracy in all the details and the length of time over which the experiments have extended, He has grown the same kind of crop on the same piece of ground, and same condition as to fertilising, and some with no manure for 36 years. The tables, which it is not necessary to reproduce, show that the con;tinuously unmanurdd plots the present year gave only 4-| bushels per acre, for the 17 years just preceding the last 10 years. A gradual decrease is to be expected, but not the falling off which occurred in 1879. The plot receiving 14 tons to the acre of farm-yard manure annually, gave only 16 bushels for the last year, against 34 per acre as the average for the preceding 27 years.! Of the three artificially manured plots ohe gave 165 bushels, or about half the average; jthe more highly manured, gave bushels, likewise a half average. The last and most highly fertilised plot, gave 22 bushels per acre, also about a half average. In 1863, the

average of the three artificially manured plots was 55 bushels. In 1879, the very same plots and fertilisers, had an average of 19| bushels, and each bushel weighed nine pounds less than in 1863. Dr Lawes concludes by stating, “ We have here a striking illustration of how great is the influence on the results of the farmer’s efforts, of circumstances entirely beyond his control, after he has employed all the resources at his command to obtain a good cron.”