312 Agricultural Journcd of Victoriu. 



plot 3, where a complete manure has been used, is actually less than 

 on plot 9, where phosphoric acid and nitrogen only, have been applied. 

 In the first case, taking the figures of the general average, it is only 

 3"75 tons ; and in the second, 4*4o. But in two of the fields the 

 yields of the complete manure are heavier than the yield on plot 9, 

 indicating perhaps an effect of the additional potash in their case, i^ 

 least. 



The following are the two fields referred to : — 



Plot 3. Plot 9. 



Phosphoric Acid, Ni- Phosphoric Acid 



trogen and Potash. ^d Nitrogen. 



Increase in Tons. Increase in Tons. 



Hill .. .. fi-Sfi .. 513 



Button.. .. 3-39 .. 317 



These figures are sufficient to support the conclusions drawn from 

 the residts of the hay experiments that potash generally is a croji 

 requirement playing" no very prominent part as yet in the fertilization 

 of a large number of soils of the South, and that a marked effective 

 action from its use will probably be only noticed on the lighter soils 

 i-ef erred to, and perhaps on certain swamp lands of a peaty nature. 



Results From the Manuring oe Othek Crops. 



A few manure tests of a similar character to those just dealt with 

 were also carried out on a number of other crops, such as onions, 

 mangels and pumpkins, but the returns are not sufficiently complete 

 as yet to draw conclusions. There seems evidence, however, for 

 thinking that the manurial ins"redients which showed themselves 

 most active in the production of the increased yields in the crops 

 just dealt with will, in the case of the latter crops, phiy a similar role. 



The Fertilization of Forage Crops. 



The results so far dealt with have been innn plots sufficiently 

 large to give under normal conditions reliable data as to the actual 

 effect of the manure used, and the returns which might be expected 

 from the much larger areas of ordinary farm practice. In addition 

 to such experiments, manure tests were made on a very much smaller 

 scale with a large number of forage crops, which were grown on 

 special fields, to be described later in this paper. You find illustrated 

 on page 313, a plan of such a forage experimental field. 



You will find there are manured bands alternating with unmanured 

 strips, extending from the top to the bottom of the field, and passing 

 through all the crops, which cross these in parallel rows. Each crop 

 then received the same manurial treatment, and there is, therefore, 

 in the case of each crop a number of manm-ed and unmanured sections. 

 These sections, fi'om the measurements of the plan, are, you will 

 recognise, small in area; too small to give absolutely correct data 

 as to either the action of the manures or the yields from the 

 unmanured ground, since such small areas are too largely within the 

 influence of soil irregularities, differences in germination and other 

 causes which, in a large field, are balanced by similar irregularitie.s 

 of adjoining areas. When, however, we have the averages of large 



