Artificial Manures for Swedes. 11 



into ten different plots of one-eighth of an acre each. These 

 experimental plots were arranged side by side in continuous rows 

 of drills, care being taken to reject the headlands from the experi- 

 mental plots. The space of one-eighth of an acre was occupied 

 by three rows of drills. The different manures were all applied 

 to the land on the same day ; and in order to secure their full 

 efficacy and their even distribution, they were put on the ridges 

 by hand in a groove, made by a hoe being drawn along the top ; 

 the different manures were then covered with some soil, and after 

 passing a roller over the drill, all the swedes were sown by ridge- 

 drill on the 20th of June. Subsequently, all experimental plots 

 were treated in precisely the same way, and care was taken to 

 render the experiments in every respect strictly comparative. 



One of the experimental plots was left unmanured ; the nine 

 remaining were manured in the manner described, with the sub- 

 joined quantities of the manures, which have been mentioned 

 already. These quantities of the different fertilisers were obtained 

 in each case with an expenditure of 5s., or each experimental 

 plot was manured at the rate of 21. per acre. 



Thus to 



Cost, 5s. for each Plot. 



Plot I. was applied . 56 Ibs. of guano. 

 ,, II. ,, ,, . 84 Ibs. of coprolites, dissolved in sulphuric 



acid, and 28 Ibs. of guano. 

 III. . 100 Ibs. of bone-dust. 

 IV. .93 Ibs. of home-made superphosphate. 



V. .56 Ibs. of economical manure. 

 VI. . 120 Ibs. of nut-refuse. 

 VII. . 140 Ibs. of dissolved coprolites. 

 VIII. ,, . Nothing. 



IX. ,, ,, . 180 Ibs. of commercial dried night-soil. 

 X. .A mixture of 1 bushel soot, 30 Ibs. of guano, 

 with dissolved coprolites, and super- 

 phosphate of bones. 



Before stating the yield of each experimental plot, I may be 

 permitted to offer some observations on the condition of the 

 growing crops, and on the chemical composition of the different 

 fertilisers used in these experiments. All have been analysed in 

 my laboratory, either completely, or when a complete analysis 

 appeared superfluous, only those substances were determined on 

 which principally the efficacy of the manure depended. 



Plot I. Manured with 56 Ibs. of guano, or at the rate of 4 cwts. per 



acre. 

 Cost of manure 5s., or 27. per acre. 



The young plants came up remarkably well, and looked for 

 a considerable time as well, if not better than the rest of the 

 experimental plots. When, howevei, the bulbs began to swell, 

 it was evident to the eye that the, guano turnips would be left 



B 4 



