CHAPTER IV 



THE MANURING OF ARABLE LAND 



Potato and Root Crops. 



We start with these crops because they usually form the basis 

 of the rotation. 



Potatoes. For some time potatoes have been the most profit- 

 able of the root crops. The extension of potato culture was one 

 of the most important factors in the revival of agriculture 20 

 years ago, and some of the methods that were successful then 

 still remain without much change. In parts of Hertfordshire, 

 for example, the Scotch farmers that came south with potatoes 

 and dairy cows found land rather run out, cheap stable manure 

 obtainable from London, and low prices for wheat. They made 

 the best of these conditions by applying heavy dressings of dung 

 to the potatoes about 20 tons to the acre and nothing to the 

 wheat. This practice is still common. But circumstances have 

 changed since then : the land is no longer run out, London stable 

 manure is no longer cheap, and wheat is high in price. Therefore 

 the method may well change. 



It is shown in Chapter n that a small dressing of dung 10 tons 

 to the acre supplemented by artificials usually gives larger 

 crops of better quality than larger dressings of dung. 



A suitable dressing is 10 to 15 tons of dung at the time 

 of planting in the north, but in winter, if possible, in the south 

 and west (see p. 10), and supplemented by the following: 



1 cwt sulphate of ammonia, 4 cwts superphosphate, 1 cwt 

 sulphate of potash; or, 1J cwts sulphate of ammonia, 4 cwts 

 superphosphate, 1| cwts sulphate of potash. 



