1922.] " Care in Purchase of Coiteu Sr i.iMiA'iK 



85 



For many years past parties of farmers have visited the 

 experiniorital fields at Eotiiamsted and every season since the 



A ointment of numbers of visitors have 



„ .J _ ^ . further increased. The authorities at 

 Guide Demonstrator^ j.^ ^ j j ■ ^ .1 

 4. -n ^1- 1. J iiothamsted desu'e to encourage these visits 

 to the Rothamsted , ^, , in • • 



_ . . and they endeavour -by ail means in their 



i,. ^. power to make them useful and interesting 



Station. [ , ^ 

 to larmers. 



The generosity of the Fertiliser Manufacturers' Association 

 and of the British Sulphate of Ammonia Federation has enabled 

 a great step forward to be made. Funds have been placed 

 at the disposal of the Rothamsted Committee which have per- 

 mitted them to appoint a special member of the staif for the 

 purpose of explaining the plots to farmers and others. Mr. H. V. 

 (rarner, B.A., of the School of Agriculture, Cambridge, has 

 accepted the post, and it now becomes possible, therefore, 

 to accommodate more parties, and, it is hoped, with 

 even better results, than could be done before. Dr. Eussell 

 ^^■ill be happy to arrange with the Secretaries of Farmers' 

 Clubs. Chambers of Agriculture, and other bodies interested, 

 for visits to the plots. Among other important items of 

 interest are : experiments on the manuring of arable crops, 

 especially wheat, barley, mangolds, and potatoes; manuring of 

 meadow hay; effect of modern slags and mineral phosphates on 

 grazing land, hay land, and arable crops; crop diseases and 

 pests; demonstration of good types of tillage implements, ti'ac- 

 tors, etc. At any convenient time between 1st May and 1st 

 October there is sufficient to occupy a full day, and alternative 

 arrangements are being completed; even if the weather turns 

 out too bad to allow for close inspection of the fields, which will 

 ensure that the time will not be lost. 



In September, 1921, the Ministry's Inspectors were instructed 



t(^ obtain some samples of Blue Vitriol (Sulphate of Copper) 



^ . ^ , as sold for wheat dressing. The Inspectors 

 Care m Purchase - l l j ^ i ^ a 



were instructed to ask for a pound of 



° , Blue Vitriol for wheat dressing." Sixty- 

 opper u p . ^.^^ samples were purchased and submitted 

 to th6 Government Laboratory. 



Fifty-five of these contained 98 per cent, or more of Copper 

 Sulphate, and 7 contained 96 per cent, or more of Copper Sul- 

 phate, together with small proportions of impurities, mainly 

 Green Vitriol (Sulphate of IronV The remaining samples con- 



