276 



EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS — KEPORT FOR 1879. 



The average amount of solid matter in turnips is seen to be less 

 than one-tenth of their total weight, and the Swedes at Harelaw 

 do not contain on the average more than the yellow turnips at 

 Pumpherston. 



Despite the great weight of the turnip crop, if we subtract 

 from it the nine-tenths consisting of .water, there is left a total 

 amount of dry matter per acre very little more than that con- 

 tained in the grain and straw of a wdiite crop. 



If we arrange the results of the first ten plots, so as to compare 

 the produce of the plots with dissolved and undissolved phos- 

 phates, we obtain the follow^ing numbers : — 



On the Harelaw plots the result of dissolving the phosphates 

 seems to have been to increase the amount of water contained 

 in the Swedes in every instance. , Considering, however, that on 

 those plots the crop was larger and the growth more vigorous, 

 that is not a surprising result. The important point to notice 

 in such cases is the effect which is produced upon the total yield 

 of solid matter per acre, and in this instance we see, by comparing 

 the numbers of the last two columns, that the total amount of 

 solid matter was diminished by the application of that form of 

 manure. The smaller crops produced by the undissolved phos- 

 pthates actually contained a larger amount of solid matter, or, in 

 other words, of food joer acre, than the larger crops produced by 



