Nov. -, lUOS.J A'jricullarul Gazelle of N.S. JF 



907 



crops, of utilising the supplies naturally existing in the soil. The super- 

 phosphate supplied a readily available form of phosphoric acid, and the crop 

 responded to its application with a largely increased yield. It had a 

 marked effect upon the young plants, inducing a vigorous healthy growth 

 from the very start. Tho^e plots treated with it could easily be detected by 

 their robust appearance inunediately they commenced to grow, and they 

 maintained this lead right through. The tjuick early growth accounts, in 

 part, for the increases in the yields. The early part of the season was moist, 

 while the latter part was abnormally dry and the \veather very cold. The 

 plots treated with superphosphate had, however, taken full advantage of the 

 early rains, and the turnips were well developed before the dry weather 

 occurred, whilst those which had not received a dressing were slow in 



^,Jkt*ik. 





General view cf fertiliser experiment. 



gi-owing and did not derive full benefit from the favourable portion of the 

 season. The application of potash and nitrogen seems to have had a beneficial 

 effect upon the crop. This was particularly the case with nitrogen, but 

 before drawing definite conclusions further tests are required. 



The results of these experiments are quite in accord with what we should 

 expect in the case of a crop like turnips, which occupies the land for a short 

 period only and is a gross feeder. It requires a considerable quantity of 

 food constituents, and they must be in a form in which they can be used at 

 once by the crop. Crops which occupy the land for long periodts, such as 

 wheat, give goorl yields on comparative'y poor soil, largely because of the 

 longer time in which the inert plant food in the soil may become available. 

 This is not the case with turnips, and unless the substances required for its 

 growth are present in a soluble condition in the soil, or are added by 



