1920.] 



Notes on Manures. 



iiii 



Fresh material delivered direct from the city depots is 

 probably somewhat more valuable. A sample recently ex- 

 amined from a London Borough Council contained : — 

 31 "2 per cent, of organic matter ; 



o'5 per cent, of phosphoric acid (equivalent to i i per cent, of 



calcium phosphate) ; 

 0-5 per cent, of potash, and, in addition, nearly 3 per cent, of lime. 



As it stands this material is poor, but its phosphate content 

 is to be increased by the inclusion of offal from the fried fish 

 shops and markets. The material is sent out in good condition, 

 and its value to the farmer corresponds with its analysis. 



The question is sometimes asked, however, whether it is 

 safe to use such material where potatoes are grown. Any 

 danger that arose would be from spores of disease organisms 

 adhering to the potato peelings which have gone through the 

 ash-pit and so got into the refuse. The danger is only slight, 

 but it exists, and where there is reason to fear the prevalence of 

 wart disease among potatoes it could hardly be overlooked. 

 On grass land or farms where there is no intention of growing 

 potatoes the risk may quite well be taken. 



Effect of Fertilisers in Overcoming: the bad Effects of Climate. — 

 Farmers are now thoroughly familiar with the fact that 

 artificial fertilisers increase the growth of crops. There is, 

 however, another aspect of their use which in many instances 

 is highly important. 



Chief among the many difficulties arising out of natural con- 

 ditions with which the farmer has to deal is chmate, and par- 

 ticularly rainfall. There is, unfortunately, no known way in 

 which the rainfall can be controlled, nor can the possibilities 

 of rain even be forecasted for more than a short period. Its 

 effects, however, can be mitigated to some extent in two ways : 



(1) By using appropriate varieties of crops. 



(2) By suitable treatment with artificial manures. 



The most effective way of mitigating the effects of heavy 

 rainfall is to give a small dressing of nitrogenous manure 

 at the time of sowing, or as soon as possible after the plant 

 is up, in order to secure an early start, and to accompany 

 this by a relatively large dressing of superphosphate, or, on 

 acid soils, of basic slag. Thus, in a high moorland district 

 where oats are required for cattle, the following might be 

 tried : — 



Varieties : Golden Rain, Yielder, Victory. 

 Manuring : J cwt. sulphate of ammonia, 3 or 4 cwt. superb- 

 phosphate. 



