282 



MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



about 22 tons per acre, and the half where 

 the larger quantity' of bone-dust with one-thii"d 

 its weight of acid was used, proved superior 

 to the other, though whether to be attributed 

 1o the difference in the manure, or to the fact 

 of that ]iart of tlie field being somewhat drier, 

 it is difficult to say. 



The field was a clay loam on the London 

 clay, and was partially drained. 



I also supplied various agiiculturists in my 

 neighborhood with vitriohzed bones, prepared 

 in the proportion of 4 bushels (180 lbs.) of 

 bone-dust, and filT lbs. of concentrated sul- 

 jjhuric acid, which I reconnnended to be ap- 

 plied to an acre when no other manm-e was 

 employed. The result m nearly eveiy in- 

 stance has been decidedly favorable. 



Mr. ^V. Gater, of Westend, employed it at 

 the rate of 2 bushels of bones to the acre, in 

 addition to a fair dressing of fann-yard dung. 

 On a poi'tion of the field the dung was used 

 alone. The foiiner was fit for the hoe several 

 days before the latter ; and on weighing por- 

 tions of each, in January last, thei'e was a su- 

 periority of 5 tons to the acre in favor of that 

 portion which had received the addition of 

 sulphated bones. 



Mr. J. W. Clark, of Timsburj-, used the 

 manure which I suj)plied him with in the 

 same proportions also, in addition to fann- 

 yai'd dung, and the Swedes proved the best 

 on his fann. The amount of viti'iolized bones 

 used per acre varied in different parts of the 

 field, tuid the goodness of the crop precisely 

 corresponded to the quantity applietl. 



Mr. J. BlundeU, of Bursledou, also used it 

 at the rate of 4 bushels of bones to the acre, 

 with C bushels of ashes m competition with 

 night-soil and ashes. On visiting his fann a 

 few weeks afterward, I noticed, at several 

 fields' distance, the superiority of one portion 

 of the field, which I found was that on which 

 the viti-iolized bones had been used. The 

 dampness of the season, however, proved so 

 favorable to the development of the other ma- 

 nure that, on weighhig them in December, 

 the latter was found about half a ton per acre 

 heavier ; the e.xpense, however, was nearly 

 double. The weight of the crop was between 

 17 and 18 tons per acre. I have no doubt 

 that if Mr. B. had :ip])hed 20 bushels of ashes 

 to the acre, instead of (i, with the sulphated 

 ■bones, the result would have been much more 

 favorable. When we bear in mind the largo 

 amount of potash contained in tlie crop, it 

 must be very evident ihal it is of importance 

 to suj)ply a good (|iiaritity of ashes which con- 

 tain a fair proportion of |)otash ; I would 

 therefore reconuaend that 20 bushels of ashes 

 per acre, at least, sliould always I)e emjtloyed. 



Mr. Poco(^k, of llickley, used tlie manure 

 at the rate of 4 l)ushels per acre, and one-third 

 acid, and was well pleased with the result, 

 though he did not ascertain its amount. 



Ml'. Withers, of Luzborough, was anotlier 

 farmer to whom I fumished a (juantity, pre- 

 pared as before mentioned, and he reports 

 very fiivorably of the results. 



(570) 



Mr. Fielder, of Sparsholt, was induced by 

 my representation of its favorable effects to 

 try the manure, Jind he found that on his light 

 land on the chalk it answered admirably. — 

 Two jjushels of vitriohzed bones with ashes 

 successfully rivaled a small portion of ground 

 drilled at the rate of 60 bushels of bones to 

 the acre for the puipose of ex2:)eriment. 



Although the vitriohzed bone has proved 

 veiy successful with white tuniips, I beheve 

 that its peculiar excellences are most fiiUy 

 proved by Swedes. I wished to ascertain this 

 by experiment, and accorduigly on the same 

 day and on similar land, a clay loam, 3 acres 

 were drilled with Laing Swedes, and 3 acres 

 with Matson's white globes after tares. The 

 Swedes proved decidedly superior both in the 

 early and later stages ; and though the root.-.. 

 as might have been anticipated, were but lA 

 moderate size, in consequence of the veiy late 

 time of drilling (early in August), yet on com- 

 paring a few rods without manure the ditier- 

 ence was very striking. A small poi-tion of 

 the globes, drilled ^vith ashes alone, also ex- 

 hibited a similar inferiorit)'. 



It should be obsei-\-ed, however, that m this 

 experiment the land was probably more suit- 

 ed for Swedes than white tuniij)s ; but, on the 

 other hand, the lateness of the season was 

 more unfavorable to the Swedes, besides wliich 

 the ciop previous to the gloljes had been ma- 

 nured wath stable-dung, while the other field 

 had received no dressing since 1843. 



Supposing that these residts are to be at- 

 tributed to tlie gi-eater suitability of the ma- 

 nure for Swede, and not owing to other causes, 

 the result is certainly in keeping \v4th the 

 comjiarative analysis of llie ashes of Swedes 

 and white tnrnips, which tells us that the 

 ttirmer contains 408 lbs. of phosphoric acid, 

 and the latter •nly 73 lbs. in 100,000 lbs. 

 each. 



It mtist be evident from this circumstance 

 that wliite tuniips do not reqiiire so large a 

 quantity of bones, whetlier vitriohzed or not ; 

 and it also corresjionils with the well-kno\\-n 

 facts that Swedes rcquu-e a larger quautit)' of 

 dung to supply the necessaiy pho.sphoric aciil. 

 and also that white turnij>s on favorable land jj 

 can be raised witli ashes alone far more easily || 

 than Swedes. ' 



I would therefore recommend in all ca.ses. 

 witli white turnips, that a less qiuuitity of vit- 

 riohzed bone be employed, and that guano, 

 or some other manure possessing its proper- 

 ties, should be used in C(uiibiiiation with it. 



In May last, a portion of laud, consisting of 

 l.J acres, was drilled with iNhitson's green top 

 globes, .and manured with 1 bushel of sul- 

 phated bones, 1 cwt. of African guano, and 

 about 2.") bushels of turf-ashes, per acre. The 

 crop was a very good one, excecdhig 20 tons 

 to the acre. 



In several instances within my own knowl- 

 edge, where guano has been used wth ashes, 

 the crop has been destroyed by the pungency 

 of the manure, probably owing to the ajnmo- 

 ixia whieli it cont;iiiLs. There is iio danger of 



