176 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Mar., 1911, 



to Ix" secured ; these can be moved ab-out to suit the parcicuhu" length of 

 tray which may be used. Each tier will take two rows (9 to each 

 row) of trays made from fruit cases cut in half as shown in sketch, and 

 will require three battens in each tier to support them. If the trays are 

 made from kerosene cases, each tier will take three rows (nine to a row), 

 and will require four battens in each tier to support them. 

 All the nails, as far as possible, should be skew-nailed. 



Quantities. 

 Posts — Jarrah, 4 in. x 3 in., 4, 8 ft.; a 7 ft. 6 in. 



Rattens — Hardwood, 3 in. x i in., 28, 5 ft. 11 in.; 2, 6 ft. 3in. ; 21, lift. in. 

 Battens — Hardwood, 3 in. x i^ in., 2, 11 ft. q in. 

 Palings — 24, 6 ft. ; 36, 5 ft. 



Iron — 26 gauge galvanized, corrugated, 6, 6 ft. 



Nails — I lb. 3 in., i lb. i^ in., ^ lb. galvanized springhead nails. 

 Total cost in Melbourne, £2 los. 

 If trays made from kero.sene cases be used, seven more 5 ft-. 1 1 in. leiif^ths of 3 in. \ i in. hardwood will 

 be neoessar.v. 



The manurial dressings per acre were as follows : — - 



1. Bonedust and superphosphate, equal parts, 5 cwt. 



2. Bonedust and superphosphate, equal parts, 5 cwt. ; stable manure, 2 trucks. 



3. Bonedust and superphosphate, 4 cwt. ; sulphate of potash, 1 cwt. ; stable 

 manure, 2 trucks. 



4. Bonedust and sui^erphosjihate, 4 cwt.; sulphate of ammonia, i cwt.; staile 

 manure, 2 trucks. 



Previous operations on these plots have shown that the most satisfactory 

 results have been obtained from a combination of bonedust and superphos- 

 l^ate, 6 cwt. per acre, and a moderate dressing of stable manure. Hitherto, 

 no very satisfactory returns have been obtained from, the use of nitrogen 

 or potash. The former has always shown in a marked degree during the 

 growing period by producing a profuse growth of haulm without a corre- 

 sponding result in the crop of tubers. In the case of potash the results 

 have been still more unsatisfactory. The plants with this manure did not 

 at any stage of growth indicate a beneficial effect and the yield of the 

 crop was smaller. Taking section 4 of x 908-9 plot, it will be seen that 

 the minimum dressing of stable manure and 6 cwt. of bonedust and super- 

 phosphate, and I cwt. of sulphate of potash gave 1.40 tons per acre less 

 than section 3, without potash ; there was also a larger percentage of 

 unmarketable tubers per acre. 



In the tests carried out in the 1910-11 series, section i, with a dressing 

 of 5 cwt. bonedust and superphosphate, gave the very satisfactory return 

 of 10 tons 10 cwt. 2 qrs. per acre. Section 2 received two trucks of stable 

 maiuire in addition to the 5 cwt. of bonedust and superphosphate, of 

 section i, at an additional cost of 56s. per acre, but resulted in an increas;:^d' 

 yield, equivalent to 3 tons 4 cwt. 2 qrs. of marketable tubers worth. 

 ;^i2 1 8s. per acre. 



