Use of Artificial Manures. 



439 



An equivalent expenditure on basic slag (or bone meal, very 

 finely ground, if the land is sandy) will, on such land, produce 

 a sounder crop. Precipitated phosphate is also an excellent 

 fertiliser under these circumstances, but it is not always easy 

 to procure. Potash in some form is usually necessary in the 

 absence of dung, and in many cases it is absolutely essential. 

 Four or 5 cwt. of kainit, or a corresponding quantity of sulphate 

 or muriate of potash, will usually suffice. Needless to say, if 

 part or all of the crop is to be folded on the land, the manurial 

 treatment may be less liberal. 



Rape, Thousand-headed Kale and Mustard, speaking gener- 

 ally, require more nitrogen and less phosphates than the last- 

 mentioned crops, but on fen land the nitrogen need only be used 

 sparingly. As these crops are generally consumed where they 

 grow they need not get farmyard manure. 



Cabbages are treated in a variety of ways, but as a rule they 

 should get a liberal dressing of dung, together with 3 or 4 cwt. 

 of superphosphate and as much kainit. When the plants are 

 fairly established, 2—3 cwt. per acre of nitrate of soda, applied in 

 " pinches," or by means of a spoon round the base of each separate 

 plant, should be given. This is a somewhat slow process, but to 

 broadcast nitrate on a crop, where the plants may be two or 

 three feet apart, must be wasteful of manure. 



Potatoes, being worth so much more than an equal weight 

 of roots, should be more liberally treated as regards manure. 

 Under ordinary circumstances farmyard manure (15 to 20 tons 

 per acre) should be the basis, supplemented by much the same 

 kind and quantity of artificials as in the case of mangolds, omit- 

 ting, however, any top-dressing. On the whole, kainit is not the 

 best potassic manure for potatoes, sulphate and muriate of 

 potash often proving superior both as to quantity and quality. 



If there is abundance of organic matter in the soil, as, for 

 instance, when potatoes are taken after a two or three years 

 ley, artificials alone will, in many cases, grow a full crop of 

 potatoes. 



In view of the valuable nature of the crop, and especially 

 in the case of early potatoes, farmers can not only afford to 

 manure liberally; but it will also pay to compound more complex 



