t^ield E,cperime}its of the Past Yrar hi/ flw Ckeinical Branch. 807 



in this respt'ct to st.iiid, L;c)U'f:illy speaking-, ii])()ii ,i pretty ('(pial 

 footing. 



Thirdly, that ]>otiisli, while showing an appreciable effect on soils 

 of a light sandy natnre, cannot be regarded generally as contributing 

 materially to increased ^nelds on soils of a stronger type. 



Fourthly, that the eff"ect of nitrogen throughout has been of a 

 marked nature, and that tlu're a])pear8 evidence in the returns for 

 4;oncluding that applicatif)ns of luanures containing this ingredient 

 will tind a marked response, as far as hay crops are concerned, on 

 southern soils generally ; but the farmer is advised to procure this 

 nitrogen for his soils by the growth and ploughing under of legu- 

 m.inous crops — and not by costly ])urchase on the market. 



Fifthly, that the profits of juanuring, where the maximum dressings 

 have been given are considerable, but that the advice to the fanner 

 for the present is to move cautiously in the matter of quantity, 

 commencing w^ith medium dressings, and advancing in the light of a 

 larger experience to the heavier applications. This, then, appears to 

 be the summary of the results of our hay manuring experiments. It 

 must, however, not be foi-gotteu that they are the results of one year 

 only, and that variations in seasons and other causes might necessitate 

 a modification of some of tlj.ese vitnvs. 



Summer Crops. 



We can now pass to a consideration of the results obtained from 

 the manuring of other cro])S, grown during the spring and summer. 

 The hay crops, on the ccuitrarv, had at their dis])osal the whole of the 

 winter rains, and were harvested early enough in the s|)ring to 

 escape the effects of any material shrinkage in the soil moisture. 

 There was nothing to ])revent the full operative etfect of manures in 

 their case. In the case of summer crops, the matter is an entirely 

 different one, and it is frequently imjiossible to accept the results of 

 a manure test in their case as in any way a reliable index to soil 

 requirements. The maximum effect f»f a particular ingredient, or the 

 combined effects of a combination of ingredients are prevented by an 

 insafficieucy of moisture or unfavourable temperature conditions, 

 resulting often in returns of quite a contradictoi*y character. These 

 points are too commonly neglected in interpreting the results of a 

 maniu'e experiment. The subsoil conditions, also, showing variations 

 even in an acre of ground little dreamt of, play a very important part 

 in the results obtained from the various plots. One ])ortion of the 

 area of an experimental field affected to a. greater degree than another 

 by periods (»f dry weather, owing to a less retentive bottom, will 

 fre(piently give results flatly contradicting those of almost adjoining 

 plots. In looking over the results of a manure test these facts should 

 not be forgotten. It is the results from the field as a whole which 

 should be taken as a basis of interpretation, and the possible reasons 

 for one or two apparent inconsistencies should not be lost sight of. 

 It is just here where the value of large numbers comes in. In the 



