ARTIFICIAL MANURES FOR SWEDES. 



IT is strange, that whilst an extended experience has proved in 

 the most positive manner the specific action of phosphatic 

 manures, and the decided advantages which result from their 

 application to root crops, the employment of manures either 

 greatly deficient in phosphoric acid, or wanting altogether this 

 important fertilizing agent, should still be recommended by some 

 practical men for raising a crop of swedes, turnips, or any other 

 root crop. No less strange appears the preference which some 

 farmers give even to half-inch bones over superphosphate of lime, 

 although the superior value of the latter fertiliser has been 

 ascertained in numerous practical experiments, and consequently 

 has been recommended by high agricultural authorities, as by 

 far the most economical form in which bones ought to be applied 

 to the land. Still more surprising appears the ready sale which 

 many artificial manures find, although their composition plainly 

 indicates the utter worthlessness of the manufactured article, or 

 the great discrepancy between the price at which it is offered for 

 sale, and its per centage of really valuable fertilising constituents. 

 But strangest of all, it strikes us, is the fact that the sale of down- 

 right trashy manures, or to say the least of them manures of a 

 very inferior description, is often perpetuated for a long time by 

 high flourished testimonials, given by men of character, and 

 possessed of a degree of practical skill which entitles them to 

 a considerate hearing. It is further worthy of observation, that 

 valuable artificial manures are often employed even by good 

 farmers in the cultivation of crops on which, as experience has 

 proved, they are used with far less advantage than on others. 

 Thus for instance, in many parts of England, but more especially 

 in Scotland, Peruvian guano is used extensively as a manure 

 for turnips, in preference to superphosphate of lime, not- 

 withstanding the publication of numerous comparative field 

 experiments, which have established the superior value of super- 

 phosphate as a manure for root crops, and which have shown 

 likewise that the greatest fertilising effect of guano is realised 

 by applying it to a white crop or to grass land. 



Strange as these facts may appear at first sight, yet a little 

 consideration, I think, will point out the reasons on which the 

 objectionable practices to which reference has just been made are 

 founded. Is there not afforded a clear proof in these and similar 



