Photographic reproduction depicts bundles of wheat grown on an experimental farm at Rothamsted, England with varying amounts of manure and chemical fertilizers. The first column shows the year 1878 with the second column illustrating the year 1899. Plots include varying amounts of manure; sulphates, potash, soda, magnesia and phosphate; mixed minerals; ammonium salts; and sodium nitrate.

This plate is found within The Romance of Modern Chemistry, which is a layman's introduction to topics in chemistry. Includes a history of chemistry along with alchemy and the philosopher's stone; elements including organic, invisible, metals, acids, alkalies, and water; chemical changes such as fire, freezing and explosions; chemistry of the stars; food; electricity; solutions and crystals; as well as discoveries in chemistry.