Sep. 2, 1920.] 



AgncuUural Gazette of N.S.W. 



625 



the quality of potatoes from the manured plots was much superior. Mixtures 

 containing bonedust and dififerent quantities of superphosphate have also been 

 tried and have all shown to advantage against the unmanured section, but 

 the P5 mixture generally gave the best results. 



During the past season the yields per acre from the two plots referred to 

 were as follows : — 



Table showing Results of Manurial Trials. 



Rainfall, 13*22 inches. 



* P5 mixture is made up of 4 parts superphosphate and 1 part sulphate of potash ; P7, of equal parts 

 sup^rphospiiate and bonedust ; and P8, of equal parts superphosphate and blood and bone. 



The Bega plot was on land that was covered by sand brought down by 

 flood waters. It was thought by working tlie sand into the soil — a good 

 alluvial deposit — good results would be obtained. The crop grew well but 

 most of the tubers were lost by wet rot in December. 



The Pambula plot was situated on a piece of ground which had not been 

 cropped for many years, and was in fact practically new ground, having been 

 built up by the silt brought down by flood waters. Nearly 8 inches of rain 

 fell in December and the potatoes were starting to rot when they were dug. 



The returns on the Pambula plot are interesting, inasmuch as the effect of 

 the superphosphate was here ra'jst marked. No doubt the slower action of 

 the bonedust in the P7 and P8 sections was accountable for the decreased 

 yield in those sections, while the results on the P5 section show that the 

 2^ cwt. superphosphate used here was not enough. 



On the Bega plots it will be seen the yields from the manured plots out- 

 stripped those from the unmanured plots in spectacular fashion. The P5 

 section looked particularly well ; as already mentioned, ho^vever, the crop 

 practically rotted. The variety used in each place was Up-to-Date. No 

 potato experiments are being conducted on the South Coast this season; 

 attention is to be given to more profitable crops. 



Lucerne's Increasing Popularity in Canada. 



Lucerne is becoming one of the most important pasture and forage crops in 

 Canada. In 1915, something like 98,000 acres were under lucerne, but l^ist 

 year the area had increased to 228,000 acres. In the province of Ontario 

 this valuat.le crop is making rapid strides, the increase being from 60,000 

 acres in 1915 to 146,800 in 1919; in Quebec it was from 2,860 acres to 

 28,488 acres. 



