1036 Notes on Manures for February. [Feb., 



NOTES ON MANURES FOR 

 FEBRUARY. 



E. J. Eussell, D.Sc, 

 Rothamsted Experimental Station. 

 Influence of Manures on " taking " of Clover Seed. — The 



past season has strikingly shown the effect of fertilisers on the 

 taking " of clover seeds. Eight different manures are tested 

 each year on the Little Hoos rotation field at Rothamsted : last 

 year clover was sown in the barley. As usual last season, the 

 plant failed over much of the field, but the extent of failure was 

 considerably influenced by the manure given to the previous 

 crops. No manure was given to the clover. The seed was sown 

 in April. The results were as follows : — 



Fairly good plant : — after farmyard manure applied to previous crops, after 

 bone meal, and to less extent after basic slag. 



Poor plant : — after superphosphate, rape cake or shoddy applied to 



previous crops. 



The results confirm previous experience here in showing the 

 special value of farmyard manure for the clover plant. It 

 appears that addition of farmyard manure to the crop preceding 

 the clover favours the development of the plant and increases 

 its yield. Non-acid phosphates are also beneficial. 



Amount of Potash removed in Meadow Hay. — A correspon- 

 dent asks how much potash is removed in meadow hay and 

 what quantity of sulphate of potash or muriate of potash must 

 be added to replace this amount? A lj-ton crop of meadow 

 hay contains about 50 lb. pure potash (K 2 0) which would be 

 supplied by 92J lb. pure sulphate of potash, or 103 lb. sulphate 

 of potash of the 48.5 per cent, grade, or 100 lb. muriate of 

 potash of the 50 per cent, grade. 



Amount of Phosphate and other Constituents in various 

 Crops. — In continuation of the list given in the December 

 Notes (p. 833) a correspondent asks for a similar list for phos- 

 phates, nitrogen and lime. The data for phosphates are : — 

 Phosphates removed as P 2 5 (lb. per acre). 



Equivalent to SO per cent* 



Yield per 



acre. 



In grain. 



In straw. 



Total. 



superphospha 

 lb. per acre. 











Wheat ... 



36 bush. 



IT 



8 



25 



184 



Barley 



40 „ 



16 



5 



21 



154 



Oats 



50 „ 



15 



7 



22 



162 



Clover hay... 



2 tons 







25 



184 



Meadow hay 



n » 







12 



88 



Swedes 



i4 „ 



Roots only 



17 



125 



Mangolds ... 



30 „ 







49 



360 



Potatoes ... 



12 „ 



Tubers only 



43 



316 



