22 



The Value of Seaweed as Manure. [april, 



same source. No attempt will be made to pool the funds of 

 the various societies ; a separate account will be kept of the 

 finances of each organisation; local residents are entering 

 with enthusiasm into the movement ; and there is every 

 prospect that the experiment will prove a model for 

 adoption in other villages. 



sjc * * * * * 



The value of seaweed as manure is appreciated in many 

 parts around the coasts of the British Isles. It is specially 

 valued in Cornwall and Devon for early 

 of^Seaweed^ potatoes, cauliflowers and root crops ; 

 ° Manure in t ^ ie ^ e °^ Thanet for lucerne, sainfoin, 



market-garden crops and ordinary farm 

 crops ; and in Jersey for early potatoes. 



The use of fresh and dried seaweed on all farms near the 

 coast during the present scarcity of farmyard manure is 

 worth considering. Some species contain as much nitrogen 

 as farmyard manure (although in a more slowly-acting form), 

 and more potash, but less phosphate, so that it is advisable 

 to add a phosphatic manure when seaweed is used instead 

 of farmyard manure. It should be put straight on the land, 

 or else mixed with dung or other material which will absorb 

 some of the decomposition products. 



Fresh seaweed cannot economically be used as manure at 

 any great distance from the coast, as the expense of carriage 

 of so bulky a product would make the cost prohibitive. To be 

 used at all on inland farms it would either have to be dried and 

 ground, or else burnt. It seems possible that the collection 

 and burning of Laminaria and Fucus might repay attention. 



Detailed information with regard to the composition and 

 use of seaweed for manurial purposes is given in the Ministry's 

 Leaflet No. 254. 



* * * * * * 



In view of the shortage of potatoes, control of prices has 

 recently been re-imposed by the Ministry of Food. 



The maximum growers' price for ware 

 Control of Potatoes, potatoes (i.e., potatoes which will not 

 pass through a i| in. riddle) was fixed 

 at £12 15s. per ton f.o.r. during the period 15th to 31st March, 

 and thereafter the growers' prices were to increase fortnightly 

 by 5s. per ton, rising on 1st June to £14 for the remainder of 

 the 1 91 9 crop. For potatoes other than ware potatoes, or 

 for a mixture of ware and other potatoes, the maximum growers' 

 price is £8 f.o.r. irrespective of the date of delivery. 



