REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 



29 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



ploughed in the autumn after the crop was gathered, gang-ploughed deeply in the 

 spring after the barnyard manure had been spread on plots 1, 2 and 6, and after 

 gang-ploughing, the other fertilizers were spread by scattering them evenly over the 

 surface, after which it was all harrowed with the smoothing harrow, then made in 

 ridges' 2 feet apart, rolled and sown. 



The variety of mangel principally grown was the Mammoth Long Red, and about 

 four pounds of seed were so^vn per acre each year. 



The variety of turnip chiefly sown was the Prize Purple Top Swede. The land 

 used for the turnips, which are usually sown later than the mangels, was prepared in 

 the same manner. It was then allowed to stand until the day before sowing, when it 

 was gang-xDloughed shallow or cultivated to kill weeds and loosen the soil, ridged, 

 rolled and so^vn. About three pounds of seed were sown per acre. 



In 1900 and 1903, no crops of mangels or turnips were gTown, but clover was sown 

 in their place in May at the rate of 12 poimds per acre. This made a strong 

 growth and was cut twice each year during the season, and left on the ground to 

 decay, so that when ploughed under, the land might get the full benefit of the clover 

 crop. The clover was allowed to remain growing until near the middle of May, the 

 year following, by which time it had made a very heavy growth. It was then ploughed 

 under about 6 inches deep and harrowed well, then made into ridges 2 feet apart. 

 These were rolled with a hand roller, which flattened the ridges considerably and made 

 a firm, even seed bed. The crops of clover and roots were alternated in this way, for 

 the purpose of supplying humus and also of gaining information as to the fertilizing 

 effect of green clover ploughed under on land to be used for growing roots. 



From 1904 to 1908, inclusive, the roots were grown each year. In 1908 both the 

 mangels and the turnips were sown on May 20, and pulled on October 11. The yield 

 per acre has been calculated in each case from the weight of roots gathered from the 

 whole plot. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZEES ON PLOTS OF MANGELS AND TURNIPS. 



o 



Fertilizers applied each year from 

 1889 to 1898 or 1899. No fertilizers 

 used from that time to 1905. Clover 

 sown in 1900 in place of the roots 

 and ploughed under in Maj', 1901, 

 before the roots were sown. In 

 1903 clover was again sown and 

 ploughed under in May, 1904. In 

 1905-6-7-8 fertilizers again applied 

 as in 1899. Clover discontinued. 



Average Yield 



FOR 



Sixteen Years. 



Mangels, 



Weight 



of Roots. 



Per acre. 



Barn-yard manure (mixed horse and 

 cow-manure) well rotted, 20 tons 

 per acre each year from 1889 to 

 1898 inclusive. No manure used 

 from 1899 to 1905. In 1905-C-7-8 

 manure was again used as at first. 



Barn-yard manure (mixed horse and 

 cow-manure) fresh, 20 tons per acre 

 each year from 1889 to 1898 inchi- 

 sive. No manure used from 1899 

 to 1905. In 1905-6-7-8 manure was 

 again used as at first 



Unmanured from the beginning. . . 



Mineral phosphate, untreated, finely 

 ground, 1,000 lbs. per acre, used 

 each year from 1889 to 1897, inclu- 

 sive. In 1898 and 1899 a similar 

 weight of the Thomas' phosphate 

 was used. No fertilizer used from 

 1900 to 1905. In 1905-6-7-8 fertilizer 

 again used as in 1899 



iTous. lbs. 



21 1334 



20 1765 

 8 1224 



8 1143 



Turnips, 



Weight 



of Roots. 



Per acre. 



Tons. lbs. 



14 1848 



15 115 



7 27 



7 1741 



17th Season, 1908, 

 Varieties. 



East Half W^est Half 

 Plot. Plot. 



Turnips : 



Purple 



Top 



Swede. 



Weight 



of Roots. 



Per acre. 



Tons. lbs. 



4 720 



4 540 

 2 160 



Mangels 

 Mammoth 

 Long Red. 



Weight 

 of Roots. 



Per acre. 



Tons. lbs. 



13 1060 



14 5S0 

 3 1680 



1 1340 4 660 



Average Yield 



For 



Seventeen Years. 



Mangels, 



Weight 



of Roots. 



Per acre. 



Tons. lbs. 



21 377 



20 990 



8 663 



Turnips, 



Weight 



of Roots. 



Per acre. 



Tons. lbs. 



14 605 



14 846 

 6 1447 



8 644 7 1011 



