92 



(half a plot), with kainit, and 4 cwt. nitrate of soda had been added, 

 the weight increased to 3(H tons; and when no dung was given, 

 but. 4 cwt. kainit with the phosphate and nitrate, the result was 

 34 J, tons. 



SPINACH gave good results where treated like beetroots. 



TURNIPS. (See also page 52.) Phosphate is the dominating 

 manure par excellence for this crop. "The quick-acting superphos- 

 phate has been credited with occasional finger and toes, weak and 

 rotten roots of defective feeding value," &c., says Mr. Frank Wallis 

 in a lecture delivered on 27th December, 1898, before the members of 

 the Southern Farmers' Club. "But a little of it is advantageous 

 for starting and promoting the earlier stages of the growth, while i 

 more stable growth and perfect maturity are secured through the 

 non-acidulated Thomas phosphate." He recommends 2 cwt. of 

 superphosphate and 4 to 5 cwt. of Thomas phosphate per acre as a 

 .good reliable dressing for Swedes and turnips on any soils under any 

 circumstances. M. Marshal, of Vilaine, France, used 1,600 Ib. 

 Tlic-mas phosphate, 160 Ib. each of sulphate of potash and nitrate 

 of soda, and had an increase of 6,800 Ib. of turnips per acre over 

 unmanured land. On six farms in Durham, Dr. Somerville tried 

 in 1893 205 Ib. of nitrate of soda. 502 Ib. of kainit, and 596 Ib. 

 Thomas phosphate, and harvested on the average 39,512 Ib. per acre, 

 against 29,613 not manured. Mr. P. Dickson used on a field of rather 

 poor loam 20 loads dung, and had 15 i tons of Swedes; but where 

 he had used in addition | cwt. of nitrate of soda the result was 2 67 

 tons. Turnips being rather uncertain in New Zealand, farmers grow 



PUMPKINS as an excellent winter food for cattle and sheep. 

 Dairy, cows give a fine flow of rich, untainted milk. Pumpkins can 

 be grown through a maize crop with advantage to both. The 

 vines prevent the ground from becoming parched. Manure like 

 Cucumbers. 



GRAPES. I refer readers also to my pamphlet, "Manuring of 

 Vineyards." Professor Dr. P. Wagner stated before lecturing in 

 December, 1899, that he would like to ask every vigneron present: 

 "In what way do you manure your vineyard? It would be 

 foolish to let your vines hunger/' He recommended in 1900 8 tons 

 dung per year, and to add in medium soil not less than 48 Ib. 

 of soluble nitrogen (contained in 3 cwt. nitrate of soda or 2| cwt. 

 sulphate of ammonia), 64 Ib. of potash (contained in 1 cwt. muriate), 

 or in sandy soil more, and 24 to 40 Ib. of phosphoric acid (in I. 1 , to '2^ 

 cwt. superphosphate or Thomas phosphate). M. O. Cosset, agri- 

 cultural teacher, in his "L'Employ Rationnel des Engrais Chi- 

 miques," recommends for preparing the soil of a new vineyard 800 

 Ib. of Thomas phosphate and 240 Ib. of muriate or sulphate of 

 potash, and when planting 160 Ib. sulphate of ammonia and 1;60 Ib. 

 nitrate of soda per acre, and afterwrds for an adult vineyard yearly 

 430 Ib. of Thomas phosphate, 160 Ib. of muriate of potash, and 160 ' b. 

 of nitrate of soda per acre. An experiment in- Tayat, in thf 

 Dcrdogne, gave- at the rate of 3,856 Ib. of grapes from an unmanured 

 a^rp,. and 7,200 Ib. where manured with 480 Ib. Thomas phosphate 



