EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS — TURNIP CROP 1882. 



371 



No. VI. — Harelaw. 



Undissolved Phosphates. 



With the sohible phosphate plots the case is different. Here 

 both stations are at one, and they unite in showing that the 

 winter-manured turnips were both heavier and denser than the 

 others, and the result is that from 250 to 300 lbs. more solid 

 matter per acre have been produced by the earlier application. 



So far as the total yield of solid matter per acre is concerned, 

 the results are in favour of the earlier application of manures, 

 but especially of superphosphate. 



It is not sufficient, however, to know the amount of solids per 

 acre only, we must know what the solids are composed of before 

 we are in a position to decide where the advantage lies. The 

 solid matter of turnips exhibits great variation in composition, 

 and two turnips may have an equal amount of solids, and yet 

 the one may possess nearly double the feeding value of the 

 other. 



The constituents of the solid matter of turnips may be divided 

 into four classes, viz., albuminoid matter, carbohydrates, woody 

 fibre, and ash. Besides these, there are other constituents which 

 will be referred to hereafter. The lirst two are substances 

 useful as food, and the remaining two are com])aratively useless 

 for that purpose. The last of these, altliough of little importance 

 as regards the feeding quality of the turnip, is nevertheless of 

 considerable importance from a maiiurial point of view, and as it 

 alfects the exhaustion of the land. It will be convenient to 



