74° 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[lo Nov., 1909. 



This process of reasoning is fault\ and has in many cases led to a 

 consideral^lv increased cost of production without any compensating increase 

 in vield. It would appear that the ix>tato-grower, in like manner as the 

 grower of almost everv other specialized product, has yet to learn what help 

 he may legitimately expect from manures. It may also be added that far 

 too manv potato-growers try to remedy an imperfect preparation of their 

 land bv'the use of unnecessarily heavy dressings of artificial fertilizers. 

 All the fertilizers under the sun will not increase an inadequate moisture 

 supply, and the not uncommon experience of crops actually "burnt"' by 

 hea^•y applications of soluble fertilizers is the result of such ignorance. 

 The table below shows the effects of artificial manures on potato crops in 

 such widely scattered districts as Broadford. Daylesford, Larpent and 

 Leongatha. The general uniformity of the results must commend them to 

 potato-growers who are interested in the establishment of facts for futun> 

 guidance. 



The average yields per acre for the various sections do not diffei' 

 widely, but the cost of application of the manures shows very ])lainly 

 which dressino: has been the most economical. 



Section 



Allowing the average price of pf>tatoes to ha\e been ^4 per ton the 

 l)rofit on section A, after deducting co.st of manures, would be ^2 15s. per 

 acre; section B, ^i 2s.; section D, ^\ i6s. ; section E, ^i is. While 

 this may be taken as a proof that manuring pays, it mav also be used to 

 direct the attention of the potato-grower to the fact thai it is gpnerall\ 

 more profitable to manure a crop intelligently than lavishly. 



