1922.] CROPriNG of a Derelict Estate in Sussex. 129 



of 2 cwt. of sulphate of ammonia and 2 cwt. of superphosphate 

 per acre. 



Harvesting in 1019. — In the harvesting operations of this 

 crop tractors were very largely used. All the binders 

 were drawn by tractors. It w 7 as found that the most satis- 

 factory plan was for a " Titan " to precede a " Fordson," as 

 this tended to keep the driver of the latter tractor steadier than 

 if left to his own devices. 



The total amount of wheat grown in 1919 amounted to 2,409 

 sacks — an average of over 36 bushels per acre on the total 

 acreage. Fig. 1 shows the crop. 



Wheat after Wheat. — One reason for growing this large 

 acreage of w T heat after wheat was that, in common with most 

 of the land on the Sussex Downs, spring crops are much 

 impeded by the prolific growth of charlock. It is, of course, 

 recognised that this w r eed can be combated by spraying, but 

 spring crops on the Downs are very susceptible to checks of 

 any kind. 



In 1919, again, the oats grown were an average crop for the 

 district but not more. This was due to the very light rainfall 

 in 1919, the competition of the charlock, and to the fact that, 

 owing to the scanty rainfall the spring com could not avail 

 itself of the fertilisers as did the longer growing and deeper 

 rooted wheat crop. 



Potatoes. — In 1919 potatoes were introduced into the 

 cropping. In all about 20 acres were grown. Local opinion 

 was again discouraging to such an experiment, as it was stated 

 that the soil was so light that it w T ould be blown away. The 

 results, however, were most gratifying (Fig. 8). 



Scotch seed potatoes were obtained. These were manured 

 with approximately 5 cwt. of flue dust, 6 cwt. of superphosphate 

 and 2} cwt. of sulphate of ammonia per acre. A quantity of 

 the earliest dug potatoes were sold in Brighton at £13 per ton, 

 but the remainder were sold at a lower rate when the price 

 was controlled. 



Further, as the seed had been obtained direct from Scotland 

 no difficulty was experienced in obtaining a ready sale for the 

 smaller potatoes as seed potatoes — " once grown " from 

 Scotland. 



Season 1920. — Having regard to the excellent crops of wheat 

 which had been grown in 1918 and 1919, and to the fact that 

 the autumn sown wheat was so much more successful than the 



c 



