REPORTS OF EXPERIMENTS WITH DIFFERENT TOP-DRESSINGS. 83 



of four, or on four plots of double the size, when there is a mixed 

 crop of seeds and clover, as such a crop is always liable to have 

 the clover and grass mixed rather irregularly. 



As regards the profit on the various crops, it would have been 

 far greater had the dressings been applied four weeks earlier. 

 According to some experiments on the application of dressings at 

 various times, the difference of crop on the dressed and undressed 

 plots would have been doubled by a month's earlier application, 

 and hence there would be profit, while in this case there is 

 actual loss with some of the dressings. 



II. On Turnips, Crop 1865. 

 [Premium — Silver Medal.] 



These experiments, also conducted on the farm of Fenton- 

 barns, were on the comparative effects on turnips of phosphates 

 derived from animal and mineral sources when in combination 

 with nitrogenous manures and alone, also on the comparative 

 effects of phosphatic and ammoniacal manures. 



The phosphates used are dissolved coprolites, dissolved bone 

 ash, dissolved bones, and Bolivian guano (not dissolved). These 

 were applied in such proportion to each plot as would supply 

 112 lbs. phosphoric acid (P0 5 ) per acre imperial. 



The nitrogenous manures used were glue and sulphate of 

 ammonia, applied in such proportion as would give nitrogen 

 equal to that contained in 56 lbs. ammonia (NH 3 ) per acre. 



The field chosen for the experiments lies between 40 and 50 

 feet above the sea level. The soil is a moderately heavy loam. 

 The previous crop had been wheat, preceded by potatoes, which 

 had received 12 tons farm-yard dung and 3 cwts. of Peruvian 

 guano per acre. From the previous cropping and manuring the 

 soil may be considered to have been in good condition. 



The experimental plots were in triplicate, each plot being 

 T |-7fth of an acre. They were carefully measured out and marked 

 with cords. There being some slight irregularity in the soil of 

 the field, the plots were so arranged as to correct this inequality. 

 The dressings were sown on May 27th, in the drills, which were 

 then ridged in and sown the same day with white globe turnip seed. 

 The glue was applied as in the experiments on grass, by boil- 

 ing the 2 lbs. 10 oz. allotted to each plot in about 3 gallons of 

 water, and pouring this over the opened out drills. 



The weather being dry after the turnips were sown, they came 

 up slowly, and were eaten considerably by fly in parts. This 

 made it difficult to estimate the relative speed of growth at the 

 time of brairding. The nothing plots seemed to be slightly 

 behind the rest at this time, while the rest of the field, which had 



