536 



Summary of Agricultural Experiments, [oct., 



SUMMARY OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS. 



As was stated in the September issue of this Journal, the 

 Board propose to give from month to month a short review or 

 summary of the reports on the experiments and inquiries which 

 are now annually carried on by agricultural colleges and 

 other bodies in various parts of the country. The experiments 

 will be grouped together as far as possible according to the 

 subject; experiments with cereals were given last month, and 

 in the present issue a summary is given of a large number of 

 experiments conducted during the past two years in regard to 

 root-crops. It is not possible within the limits of the space 

 which can be allotted to the subject in this Journal to do more, 

 as a rule, than give a brief indication of the character of the 

 experiment and of the conclusions reached. Those who are 

 interested in any particular investigation can refer for further 

 details to the original publication. 



The Board would be glad to receive for inclusion in this 

 summary, copies of reports on inquiries, whether carried out by 

 agricultural colleges, societies or private persons. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH ROOT CROPS. 



Manuring of Ma?igolds {Journal of Roy. Agric. Soc, 1907).— This experi- 

 ment was carried out in 1907 on a field at Woburn the soil of which is 

 distinctly light and sandy. There were four plots, each of which received 

 15 tons of dung ; in addition, one received 1 cwt. nitrate of soda and 1 cwt. 

 of salt, and one received 1 cwt. and another 2 cwts. of nitrate. The crop on 

 the plot receiving dung alone was 33 tons 7 cwts., and the additional 

 manures produced very little more. It was considered, therefore, that 

 " season " rather than manuring was the dominant factor. 



Ma?turing of Mangolds {Univ. Coll. of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dept. of 

 Agric, Ann. Kept., 1906). — This experiment was carried out at two centres 

 in 1906 with various combinations of farmyard manure and artificial 

 fertilisers. The conclusions arrived at were (1) that mangolds could be 

 grown profitably in that part of the country with artificial manures alone ; 

 (2) that a mixture of farmyard manure and artificials is more economical 

 than farmyard manure alone ; (3) that 20 tons seems to be a sufficient 

 dressing of farmyard manure for mangolds ; (4) that 10 tons of farmyard 

 manure is insufficient if the dressing of artificial manures be incomplete ; and 

 {5) that a complete dressing of artificial manures amounting to 2 cwts. 

 nitrate of soda, 4 cwts. superphosphate, and 6 cwts. kainit, together with 

 10 tons of farmyard manure gives the most profitable result. 



Manuring of Mangolds {Field Expts., Harper- Adams Coll., 1907). — 

 The results are given of manurial trials carried out at three centres in 

 Staffordshire, while at the College Farm in Salop, trials have been 

 conducted to ascertain what top-dressings would prove profitable. No definite 



