COST OR MANURIAL RESIDUE 195 



regular quantity of each food referred to has been consumed each 

 year during that period, and they have a fixed percentage deduc- 

 tion from year to year. It is obvious that in practice it would 

 be quite impracticable to go back that number of years to assess 

 compensation. Besides, the scientific witnesses examined were 

 unanimous in their opinion that there is no actual case for com- 

 pensation so far back, and they practically agreed that four years 

 was the utmost limit of any appreciable residue. In fact, the 

 Woburn and Rothamsted experiments proved conclusively that 

 in the case of feeding stuffs consumed by sheep eating turnips 

 on arable land, there was generally a large increase in the yield of 

 corn in the next crop, only a very small increase in the following 

 crop, and rarely, if ever, any at all in the third crop. It was only 

 heavy dressings of dung which showed any appreciable result 

 for longer periods. 



Some witnesses were in favour of going back for three years, 

 but a greater number expressed an opinion that it was neither 

 practicable nor necessary to go back for more than two years, 

 whilst a fe\v suggested that rather higher allowances should be 

 made for the last year but one, to make up for any residue there 

 might be left from previous consumption. The Committee 

 consider that they are not justified in limiting compensation to 

 the last two years only, and to give effect to the last suggestion 

 it would be necessary to have proof of the quantities consumed 

 in previous years. Extending the compensation due over three 

 years would entail but little extra labour on valuers, and from 

 every other point of view is to be recommended. 



MANURES*, 



As regards improvements which come under this heading, the 

 varying conditions of all kinds in different parts of the country 

 are such as to make any uniform scale of compensation in respect 

 of them, for general application, impossible, and rather point 

 to the desirability of such being dealt with by local custom and 

 knowledge. 



At the same time, the Committee feel it incumbent on them 

 to emphasise the broad principle which should govern compensa- 

 tion for the unexhausted value of purchased manures, a principle 

 which is not always kept in view, viz., that compensation should 

 not depend upon what the outlay has cost the outgoing tenant, 

 but what is its value to the incoming tenant. This is especially 

 necessary in the case of undissolved bones, basic slag, and lime. 



Probably most of the scales in operation, in their respective 

 districts, when dealing with such manures as dissolved bones, 

 superphosphate, potash salts, nitrogenous manures, and the 

 mixtures of any of these, are fairly equitable ; but they must not 

 always be too rigidly adhered to. For instance, potash may have 

 been applied to land which already contains as much as is needed, 

 and consequently an incoming tenant may be called upon to pay 

 for a supply of which his crops cannot make use. Or, on the 



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