384 EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS — TURNIP CROP 18S2. 



others. It will be seen that the ratio is closest on these plots 

 which produced a small crop, and that the ratio widens very 

 regularly, according as the quantity of solid matter per acre 

 increases. The increase of quantity thus seems to be got at the 

 expense of quality, and that what is called a poor crop is 

 nevertheless, ton for ton, better feeding matter than a large one. 

 A small crop should therefore fetch a higher price per ton than 

 a bulky one. The phosphate plots which produced large 

 crops have a wide ratio, and those to which soluble phosphate 

 was applied have the widest ratio of all. The only plot which 

 contains a small crop with a ^'ide ratio is plot 22, — an abnormal 

 plot in many respects, — which received nothing but potash salts. 

 The superphosphate plots 28, 29, and 30 are nearly on a level as 

 regards feeding quality, but with the exception of the winter- 

 manured half of plot 29, the crop was below average in quantity. 

 It will be noticed, however, that all these plots have a compara- 

 tively close ratio, and the produce of them was better than the rest 

 of the station if we have regard to both the quantity and quality 

 combined. The main difference in the manuring between these 

 plots and the others is, that instead of being top-dressed with 

 nitrate of soda, they had sulphate of ammonia applied to them ; 

 and it may be that nitrogen supplied in the latter form is better 

 than the other for the production of quality in turnips, but it 

 would be rash to assert this without further proof than is afforded 

 by this one set of experiments. It is an indication, however, 

 which will receive investigation immediately. The results of 

 these analyses sufficiently show that there are other things than 

 manuring to consider in aiming at quality in turnips, and chiefly 

 there is the seed. Other experiments, which I have been carry- 

 ing on for some years, show that with proper selection of seed 

 there is a possibility of improving the strain of turnips in the 

 direction of increasing their feeding quality, and it seems evident 

 that this is a matter in which we have hitherto been too careless. 

 There seems no reason why the feeding power of turnips should 

 not be greatly increased — perhaps doubled — by a careful selec- 

 tion of seed from the most nutritious bulbs. 



The " Quantity plots " (31-34) form a very instructive group 

 at Pumpherston station. These plots are duplicates of plots 

 1, 2, 4, and 20, and have the same gross quantity of manure 

 applied to them, but they are each divided in half. The manure 

 for them was divided into three equal portions ; to one half of 

 each plot one portion was given and to the other half two por- 

 tions. The one half of each plot received exactly half the 

 amount of manure which the other half did. In comparison 

 with the plots of which they are duplicates, the one half received 

 one-third less manure, and the other received one-third more. 

 The differences in the amount of crop are very striking — much 



