1920.] 



Notes on Manures. 



1 10 9 



they are three times as long as on the smallest holdings. Con- 

 sumption of fodder per horse is nearly twice as great on the 

 large as on the small holdings. As against this the costs per 

 working hour and per acre (" hectare " in original) are heaviest 

 in the smallest holdings, but the difference is not nearly so great 

 as might be expected, owing to some extent to the fact that on 

 small holdings ponies, which are considerably cheaper to keep, 

 are employed, and also because the land in the small -holder 

 group is, taken all through, of a somewhat lighter character. 

 . . . The total cost per horse per year increases with absolute 

 regularity from group i to group 6 ; this is due to the increase in 

 food consumed, which again is the result partly of the increasing 

 size of the horses and partly of the increased number of working 

 . hours per horse." 



Time for Sprlngr Dressings. — It is now time to begin the appli- 

 cation of spring dressings to the winter corn crops. Sulphate 

 of ammonia can go on wherever the kind is 

 Notes on Manures in suitable condition for the distribr.lion, 

 for March: but nitrate of soda need not be applied 

 From the Rothamsted for another month or six weeks if circum- 

 ExpeHmental Station, stances compel delay. Owing to the 

 favourable conditions at the time of sowing 

 and the dryness of the wdnter, the corn is in better condition 

 than usual, and there was less washing out of nitrate than 

 appeared Hkely during the wet month of December. Conse- 

 quently, the need for spring dressings is less than it might 

 have been, and probably in few cases will more than i cwt. 

 per acre of nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia be given, 

 even to a second corn crop. Corn following roots fed off or 

 clover ley ploughed in last autumn is not likely to need any- 

 thing this year. 



Lime on heavy Soils.— It is generally found that on heavy 

 soils lime gives better results on arable land than almost any 

 other manure, but it does not produce nearly such striking 

 results on the grass land, where it is much out-distanced by 

 basic slag. Farmers on heavy land with only a limited amount 

 of lime or ground limestone will therefore be better advised 

 to use it on their arable rather than on their grass land. It 

 can still be applied to land which is being prepared for 

 roots. 



