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The duplicates of the samples examined by Mr. Chapman were handed to a well-known firm of hop factors in the Borough, and their report, again substituting the proper descriptions of the samples for the arbitrary numbers under which they were submitted, is as follows:—
| "We have examined the nine samples, and find that taking each individual sample as representing a growth, their values come in the following order:— | ||
| " | E | (Phosphates, potash, and 8 cwt. nitrate of soda.) |
| S | (20 loads London dung, 6 cwt. superphosphate, and 6 cwt. nitrate of soda.) | |
| F | (Phosphates, potash, and 10 cwt. nitrate of soda.) | |
| D | ( „ „ and 6 cwt. nitrate of soda.) | |
| C | ( „ „ and 4 cwt. nitrate of soda.) | |
| B | ( „ „ and 2 cwt. nitrate of soda.) | |
| X | (30 loads London dung.) | |
| No. 9 | (another part of farm) 6 cwt. superphosphate, 2½ tons wool-waste, and 5 cwt. guano, without nitrate. | |
| A | (Phosphates and potash, without nitrate.) | |
| "As to their value on to-day's market it is very hard to say within a shilling or two; but, taking E as being worth 50s. and A 35s. and the other samples in proportion, is as near as it is possible to assess their market value." | ||
It may be added that, on the day on which this valuation was made, 50s. was the full value, to the grower, of what are known as good medium Mid-kent Fuggles.
Judging, therefore, from the quite independent reports of Mr. Chapman and of the hop factors—the one regarding the samples from the ultimate purchaser's point of view, and the other from that of the grower or original vendor—there appears to be no room for doubt that, notwithstanding the very luxuriant growth of the year, the quality of the hops as well as their quantity was materially improved by the liberal use of nitrate of soda.
In looking at the quantitative results, it will be seen that three of the plots were all alike in giving the top yield of 24½ cwt. per acre. These were Plots X (manured with dung only), F (manured with phosphates, potash, and 10 cwt.
