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FERTILISERS FOR MARKET GARDEN CROPS. 



The object of this article is to give a very short summary of 

 the results of experiments carried out during the last nine or 

 ten years by Mr. Shrivell and myself on the growth of vegetable 

 and fruit crops on a weald clay farm in the neighbourhood of 

 Tonbridge. 



The crops under experiment have included various kinds of 

 cabbages, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflowers, lettuces 

 potatoes, tomatoes, artichokes, beetroots, spinach, carrots, 

 parsnips, celery, onions, leeks, beans, peas, strawberries, goose- 

 berries, currants, plums, raspberries and apples, besides more 

 strictly agricultural crops, such as hops, which latter, however, 

 do not now claim our attention. 



Many of the vegetable crops enumerated have been grown 

 every year, but most of our fruit plots have only been established 

 during the later years of our experiments. 



In some few cases only two plots are devoted each year to 

 each specific experiment, but in the majority of cases each crop 

 has every year six plots devoted to it. Two of these plots 

 receive town dung only, one getting double the quantity applied 

 to the other; three plots receive the lighter quantity of dung, 

 with varying dressings of chemical fertilisers ; while the sixth 

 plot receives an abundant dressing of chemical fertilisers only. 

 The four plots on which chemical fertilisers are applied are 

 sub-divided, one half receiving potash salts, and the other none, 

 So that for nearly all our crops we have, including sub-plots, 

 ten plots every year. 



Whenever it is convenient the crops on each section are 

 changed every season, in accordance with ordinary rotation 

 principles. 



Accurate notes are kept of all manuring, and the crops are 

 systematically gathered by cutting or pulling them as they are 

 ready for market. For instance, every cauliflower is cut at the 



