10 Aug.. 1916.] Experiments in the Cultivation of I'otatoes. 463 



In computing, the values of the manures used, have been taken at 

 the rates per cwt. shown hereunder: — 



Superphosphate, 4s. 6d. ; sulphate of potash, 14s. ; sulphate of am- 

 monia, 16s. ; blood and bone, 7s. ; basic phosphate, 4s. ; potato manure, 

 6s. 6d. ; blood, 6s. 9d. 



The value of the crop has been reckoned at £5, a rate which must 

 be admitted moderate when the prices of the past two seasons are con- 

 sidered. 



Kesults op Manure Tests in Money Values. 



Rates per acre. 



No Manure 



3 cwt. Super. 



3 cwt. Basic Phosphate 



3 cwt. Blood and Bone 



3 cwt. Potato Manure 



1 cwt. Sulphate of Potash, 3 cwt. Blood and Bone 



1 cwt. Sulphate of Potash. .3 cwt. Sup(»r. 



3 cwt. Super., 1 cwt. Sulphate of Potash, 1 cwt. Sulphate 

 of Ammonia 



3 cwt. Super., 1 cwt. Sulphate of Potash, 2 cwt. Blood . . 



6 cwt. Super., li cwt. Sulphate of Potash, H cwt. Sul- 

 phate of Ammonia . . . . ^ 



9 cwt. Super., 3 cwt. Sulphate of Potash, 3 cwt. Sulphate 

 of Ammonia 



Gros-s 



Value at 



£5 per 



Ton. 



46 17 6 



50 12 6 



These figures should be more than interesting to potato growers. 



In every case there is shown a cash increase after paying for manure, 

 and, here is the strongest possible evidence of the fact that the more 

 liberal the ex.penditure on suitable manures, the bigger is the margin 

 of profit which accrues. 



Not many growers in the State apply dressings up to the heavier 

 weights tested at Leongatha. Yet these figures, and those of last year, 

 show that where soil is deficient in the necessary quantity of plant food, 

 liberal manuring is a sound investment which returns a handsome in- 

 terest. Tlie building up of fertility by manuring increases land values 

 per acre, by increasing its potential productiveness. 



Section 2. — Dipping and Spraying Test. 



In this section the variety " Up-to-date " was subjected to the treat- 

 ments indicated in the accompanying table. All the seed used was 

 taken from one parcel, and was clean. The dipj>ing solution for seed 

 was made from 1 oz. of corrosive sublimate to 6 gallons of water and 

 the seed was immersed in this for one and a half to two hours. The 

 si)rayiug solution was made from copiper sul])liate, 2 lbs. ; wasliiiig soda, 

 2h lbs. ; to 10 gallons of water. Under all treatments the re.sultiug 

 crop was clean so that the test for this sea.^on has no practical value. 



