REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 31 



Experiments with Fertilizers, on plots of Indian Corn, y^th acre each, &c. — Continued. 



PLOTS OF MANGELS AND TURNIPS. 



In conducting these experiments the roots only have been taken from the land, the 

 tops have always been cut off and left on the ground to be ploughed under so that the 

 plant food they have taken from the soil may be returned to it. One half of each one- 

 tenth acre plot in the series,-has been devoted to the growth of mangels, and the other 

 half to turnips. The preparation of the land has been the same for both these roots. It 

 has been ploughed in the autumn after the crop is gathered, disc-harrowed once in the 

 spring, harrowed with smoothing harrow once, then ridged and sown. 



In 1889, the variety of mangel used was the Mammoth Long Red. In 1890, three 

 varieties were sown : 15 rows of Mammoth Long Red, 6 of Mammoth Long Yellow, and 

 6 of Golden Intermediate on each plot. In 1891, each plot again had three varieties : 

 18 rows of Mammoth Long Red, 3 of Yellow Fleshed Tankard, and 6 of Golden Tankard. 

 In 1892, 1893 and 1894, one variety only has been used, namely, the Mammoth Long 

 Red. From 4 to 6 lbs. of seed have been sown per acre, each year, in rows 1\ feet 

 apart. In 1894, the mangels were sown May 9, came up May 19, and were pulled 

 October 11. 



Two varieties of turnips were sown on the half plots devoted to these roots in 1889 : 

 25 rows of Carter's Prize Winner, and 2 rows of Carter's Queen of Swedes ; and in 1890, 

 a single variety : Carter's Elephant Swede. In 1891, six varieties were sown : 6 rows 

 of Lord Derby Swede, 4 of New Giant King, 3 of Imperial Swede, 6 of Champion 

 Swede, 4 of Purple Top Swede, and 4 of East Lothian Swede. In 1892, the Improved 

 Purple Top Swede was sown, and in 1893 and 1894, the Prize Purple Top Swede. The 

 land used for the turnips, which are usually sown later than the mangels, is allowed to 

 stand after disc-harrowing, then cultivated once and ridged immediately before sowing. 

 In 1894, the turnips were sown June 12, came up June 16, and were pulled October 15. 

 The plots of both mangels and turnips have yielded, during the past season, a little 

 better than the average of previous years. 



