122 TIMEHRI. 
ee against ‘8 ton the average increase due to super- 
phosphate of lime. During seven crops, mineral phos- 
phates in single and double dressings were experimented 
with, the average results being :— 
No Phosphates 29.3 tons of canes per acre. 
Mineral Phosphates (single) 299 , 39 2 
Z * (double) gor ,, if 3 
showing that on the Dodd’s soil mineral phosphates 
exerted but little aétion. 
The following shows the effeéts of potash during the 
two periods :— 
1887-1890. 1891-1895. 
Without Potash 29'8tons of canes per acre. 26°2 tons of canes per acre, 
With Potash QOS re as ‘i a eral =p *e = 
Here the plots without potash appear to be suffering | 
from gradual exhaustion of the available potash in the 
soil, (The average amount of potash soluble in boiling 
hydrochloric acid in these soils in 1886 and 1887 was 
"1005 per cent.) 
The experiments conduéted by Mr. SCARD on behalf 
of the Colonial Company, in this colony, next claim 
attention. Unfortunately, these experiments, as is prac- 
tically unavoidable with agricultural experiments made 
on extensive sugar estates, were conduéted over com- 
paratively large areas (3 acre plots) and in consequence 
the results were adversely affe€ted by variations in the 
fertility of the soils. In addition, the unmanured plots were 
not duplicated on different.parts of the fields used, and 
thus no guidance was afforded to these soil differences. 
In all, the results of 858 manurial trials are given in the 
eloborate report published, and of these no less than 3o1 
experiments gave results lower than those yielded by 
the control plots without manure, Mr. SCARD drew his 
Os a ee 
