Manuring of Hops. 



503 



Hall, Director of the Lawes Agricultural Station, Rothamsted 

 has shown that the hop plant requires these latter substances 

 just as much as nitrogen ; that the hop is, in fact, an all-round 

 feeder. Hitherto, also, the nitrogenous manures applied have 

 been mostly of an organic character, which are only slowly 

 available, while sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of soda have 

 been comparatively neglected ; the latter, indeed, being regarded 

 as of little value, probably because the hops were not at the 

 same time supplied with phosphatic and potassic manures 

 This fertiliser, however, may prove very useful as a dressing in 

 spring, more particularly if the other nitrates have been washed 

 out of the soil during a rainy winter ; and it has been used a 

 good deal of late years. 



With the view mainly of ascertaining the limits within which 

 nitrate can be most economically and safely used, experiments 

 have been carried out during the past eight years on the farm of 

 Mr. Shrivell, at Hadlow, near Tonbridge, under the supervision 

 of Dr. Bernard Dyer. To make the experiment as simple and 

 direct as possible, nitrate of soda was the only source of the 

 nitrogen supplied to the plants, and was applied, in varying 

 quantities, with phosphates and potash. 



The manures applied, and the cost per acre, arc shown in 

 the following table : — 







Annual 







Cost of 



riot. 



Annual Manuring per Acre. 



Manure 







per 







Acre. 







£ s. d. 



A 



*Phosphates and Potash 



2 10 0 



B 



Phosphates, Potash and 2 cvvt. Nitrate of Soda ... 



3 io 0 



C 



Phosphates, Potash and 4 cwt. Nitrate of Soda ... 



4 10 0 



D 



Phosphates, Potash and 6 cvvt. Nitrate of Soda ... 



5 10 0 



E 



Phosphates, Potash and 8 cwt. Nitrate of Soda ... 



6 10 0 



F 



Phosphates, Potash and 10 cwt. Nitrate of Soda... 



7 10 0 



X 



30 loads (15 tons) London Dung ... 



6 0 0 



* 8 cwt. superphosphate and 2 cwt. muriate of potash in 1896 ; IO cwt. basi_ 

 slag and 2 cwt. sulphate of potash in 1897 ; 8 cwt. superphosphate and I cwt 

 sulphate of potash in 1898; 10 cwt. basic slag and 5 cwt. kainit in 1899; 10 cwt. 

 superphosphate and 2 cwt. sulphate of potash in 1900 ; 10 cwt. superphosphate 

 and 2 cwt. sulphate of potash in 1901 ; 10 cwt. basic slag and 2 cwt. sulphate of 

 potash in 1932. 



The remainder of the field was dressed in certain years with various fertilisers. 



