LIME AND VAKIOUS ARTIFICIAL MANURES. 119 



made with manufactured manures for tliis crop have been made 

 along with that quantity of farm-yard manure. 



The potato is more of a season or sun plant than the turnip, 

 and, very unlike the latter, often gives better results on thin 

 light soils than on deep heavy loam. I have tried a great many 

 experiments with artificial manures for this crop, and am still 

 experimenting. I have found potash a very necessary manure. 



1 have tried muriate of potash, sulphate of potash, and kainit 

 salt, value for value, and all three with the same weight of 

 nitrogenous and phosphatic manures apj)lied with them. The 

 muriate gave no better results than the nitrogenous and phos- 

 phatic manures alone, in three successive seasons. Sulphate of 

 jDotash the same three seasons gave 17 cwts., 27 cwts., and 19^ 

 cwts. more potatoes per acre respectively, than where no potash 

 was applied. The kainit gave on an average of the three seasons 

 barely 7 c^vts. per acre more potatoes than without potash. The 

 muriate was applied at the rate of 2 cwts. per acre, the sulphate 

 to fully that quantity, and the kainit salt at 5 cwts. per acre. 

 The manures used alongside were dissolved bones, containing 3 

 per cent, ammonia and 35 per cent, of phosphates, at the rate of 



2 cwts. with potash and 4 cwts. without potash. So far as 

 regards expense, the cost was equal, therefore any extra crop was 

 profit. Last year, and this year also, I tried both larger and 

 smaller quantities than what I have already mentioned, but have 

 found that 2 cwts. of sulphate of potash is quite as much as will 

 give good results. Upon the field of lighter soil, of which I have 

 given the analysis, I had my best results with 1^ cwt. per acre. 



A peculiarity occurred this year (1878) in regard to the use of 

 potash as a potato fertiliser, which I think worthy of notice. I 

 top dressed a portion of my No. I. field with 2 cwts. of potash 

 salts (sulphate) and 2 cwts. of dissolved bones, another portion 

 immediately adjoining with 4 cwts. dissolved bones. About the 

 beginning of July the potato tops of the plot withovit the potash 

 began to lose colour a little, and look stunted, while those with 

 the potash kept a bright healthy green. Later in the season the 

 difference was still greater, lots of the tops of the dissolved bone 

 lot were almost withered down, while those of the potash 

 manured portion were immensely strong, tall, and healthy. 

 When lifting them I found a great deal of second growth and 

 lots of small potatoes amongst the dissolved bone portion, while 

 the potash portion showed a fine bold sample, with no second 

 growth or scab, and at the least computation. 1 ton 15 cwts. an 

 acre heavier crop. The difference in money value, taking into 

 account the difference of quality as well as quantity, would be 

 about £6 per acre at present prices. (The crop was of the 

 Champion variety.) The potash manured division was lifting 

 about ten tons an acre. I never before noticed so much difterence- 



