Experiments upon Swedes. 5 



season was far advanced, many of the transplanted roots came to 

 nothing, and after all I obtained an unequal crop. 



Passing over the composition of the different manures, and the 

 analysis of the soil, I will now record at once the result of the 

 weighings of each plot : 



TABLE showing Produce in Swedes, topped and tailed and cleaned, of each 

 Experimental Plot and per Acre. 



I give this table in order to show how strangely sometimes 

 experiments turn out, and how necessary it is to observe care- 

 fully all circumstances which may affect the final produce. If no 

 notice had been taken of the cause which operated so injuriously 

 on the experimental roots, the strangest deductions might have 

 been arrived at. Thus, it might appear that 1 cwt. of sul- 

 phate of ammonia per acre was the best turnip-manure ; that 

 1 cwt. of superphosphate per acre, on the other hand, was inju- 

 rious to swedes, inasmuch as in the preceding experiments it 

 diminished the produce ; that 3 cwts. of gypsum per acre were as 

 good as 3 cwts. of bone-dust for turnips, and that both are equal 

 in fertilizing power to 20 tons of farmyard-manure. These and 

 other absurd conclusions might all be derived from experiments 

 in which the produce has been accurately weighed. Similar 

 contradictions and anomalies strike the attention of the experi- 

 enced and critical reader of the many reports of like experiments 

 printed in our newspapers. In many instances we cannot but 

 admit that these have been conducted in a conscientious and 

 careful manner ; yet the results are such, that if due allowance 



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