Annual Report. 181 



a. On the Efficiency of Salt as a Fertiliser. 



Experiments with salt on mangolds, potatoes, swedes, and 

 clover-seeds were tried in several parts of the country. 



In most instances no very marked effect could be noticed in the 

 crops so manured. The unusually dry and hot summer, which 

 was very unfavourable to the growth of swedes, prevented the 

 beneficial action which salt, under more favourable circumstances, 

 is capable of exercising. 



In some instances the application of salt, no doubt on account 

 of deficiency of moisture, and an unusually high temperature in 

 spring, had a decidedly injurious effect on vegetation. 



In one series of experiments in which quantities of salt, vary- 

 ing from 1 to 8 cwt., were applied to mangolds, grown on a very 

 light sandy soil, the increase of the crop was very considerable, 

 and much larger on the plots on which salt was more freely used 

 than on those on which it was applied more sparingly. 



On light soils, especially, salt appears to be useful for mangolds, 

 and in all probability to turnips and swedes, and other root-crops. 

 The failure of the same series of salt-experiments on certain light 

 soils, contrasting with their success on other very similar soils, 

 induces me to think that salt (and probably other valuable and 

 highly soluble manures) is often put on the land too late in the 

 season. Even on light land I would suggest that 4 or 5 cwt. of 

 salt be sown broadcast as early as February, and that its appli- 

 cation be not delayed until the time of sowing of turnips or 

 mangolds, and still less until the roots are singled. 



h. On the practical Effect of crude Potash Salts from Germany. 



As stated in my last report, the comparatively cheap rate at 

 which the Stassfurth manure is sold renders field-experiments 

 with these salts very desirable. 



Last year the dry season unfortunately spoiled the experiments. 

 I therefore have obtained a fresh and larger supply than last year, 

 and induced several of my friends to test their efficacy in the 

 field. 



Most of the experiments were tried under my immediate super- 

 intendence, and care taken to avoid mistakes. 



Mr. Frere, our editor, also tried some experiments with these 

 salts upon potatoes, and upon clover ; but whether it is due to 

 the circumstance that the potash-manure was applied too late in 

 the season, or that the weather was too dry, or that potash was 

 not deficient in the soil on which the experiments were tried, or 

 whether there was any other disturbing influence at work, the 



