HEPORT OF THE DIRECTOR AND ACTING AGRICULTURIST. 



49 



Two varieties of turnips were sown on the half plots devoted to these roots in 1889 : 

 25 rows of Carter's Prize Winner, and 2 rows of Carter's Queen of Swedes ; and in 1890, 

 a single variety. Carter's Elephant Swede. In 1891, six varieties were sown; 6 rows 

 of Lord Derby Swede, 4 of New Giant King, 3 of Imperial Swede, 6 of Champion 

 Swede, 4 of Purple Top Swede, and 4 of East Lothian Swede. In 1892, the Improved 

 Purple Top Swede only was sown, in 1893 and 1894 the Prize Purple Top Swede, in 

 1895 the Imperial Swede, and in 1896 and 1897 the Prize Purple Top Swede. The land 

 used for the turnips, which are usually sown later than the mangels, is allowed to stand 

 after disc-harrowing or gang-ploughing, then cultivated once and ridged and rolled im- 

 mediately before sowing. In 1897, the turnips were sown 10th June, came up 15th 

 June, and were pulled 16th October. The crops of turnips have been larger during the 

 past season on aU the plots excepting 17 and 21 than the average of previous years, 

 while in the case of the mangels all of the plots excepting 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 18 have given 

 a smaller yield than the average of the past eight years. The rotted manure has averaged 

 better results than the fresh manure with the mangels, but the turnips have given better 

 results with the fresh manure. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS ON ROOTS ; PLOTS OF MANGELS AND TURNIPS 



f^TH ACRE EACH. 



o 



6 



8 



9 



Fertilizers applied each Year. 



Barn-yard manure, well rotted, 20 

 tons per acre 



Barn-yard manure, fresh,20 tons p. ac. 



Unmanured 



Mineral phosphate, untreated, finely 

 ground, 1,000 lbs. per acre. .... 



Mmeral phosphate, untreated, finely 

 ground, 1,000 lbs.; nitrate of soda, 

 250 lbs. ; wood ashes, unleached, 

 1,000 lbs. per acre 



Barn-yard manure, partly rotted and 

 actively fermenting, 12 tons per 

 acre ; mineral phosphate, untreat 

 ed, finely ground, 1,000 lbs per 

 acre, composted together, in timately 

 mixed and allowed to heat for 

 several days before using 



Mineral phosphate, untreated, finely 

 ground, 1,000 lbs.; sulphate of pot 

 ash, 200 lbs. in 1889 and 1890, (sub 

 stituted by muriate of potash, 250 

 lbs. in 1891 and subsequent years); 

 nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. per acre. . 



Mineral superphosphate. No. 1, 500 

 lbs. ; sulphate of potash, 200 lbs. 

 in 1889 and 1890, (substituted by 

 muriate of potash, 250 lbs. in 1891 

 and subsequent years) ; nitrate of 

 soda, 200 lbs. per acre 



Mineral superphosphate. No. 1, 500 

 lbs. per acre 



AvEBAGB Yield 



FOR 



Eight Years. 



West Half 

 Plot. 



Mangels, 



Weight 



of Roots. 



Per Acre. 



Tons. Lbs. 



22 800 



21 1,594 



9 933 



8 1,419 



13 632 



18 196 



9 1,668 



14 1,628 

 9 1,594 



Turnips, 



Weight 



of Roots. 



Mangels, 



Mammoth 



Long Red: 



Weight 



of Roots. 



Per Acre 



Tons. Lbs. 



13 1,285 



14 864 



7 422 



7 704 



8 1,244 



12 632 



8 1,497 



11 1,271 

 8 1,558 



9th Season, 1897. 

 Varieties. 



Per Acre. 



Tons. Lbs. 



27 1,180 

 25 1,030 



7 1,260 



8 810 



16 870 



20 1,800 



14 170 



11 480 

 7 370 



East Half 

 Plot. 



Turnips, 

 Purple 



Top 



Swede : 



Weight of 



Roots. 



Per Acre. 



Tons. Lbs. 



24 1,020 



23 140 



9 1,860 



10 310 



13 1,350 



20 1,590 



12 1,520 



15 280 

 12 740 



AvsBAOB Yield 



FOB 



Nine Years. 



Mangels, 



Weight 



of Roots. 



Per Acre. 



Tons. Lbs. 



22 1,953 



22 420 



9 525 



8 1,351 



13 1,325 



18 819 



10 613 



14 834 

 9 1,014 



Turnips, 



Weight 

 of Roots. 



Per Acre. 



Tons. Lbs. 



14 1,700 



15 784 

 7 1,026 



7 1,327 



g 367 



13 516 



9 S89 



12 50 

 9 356 



8a— 4 



