240 Summary of Agricultural Experiments, [june, 



are considered in order: — (a) Farmyard manure alone; (b) artificial 

 manures alone; and (c) farmyard and artificial manures combined. 

 The action of common salt and the influence of season are also dealt 

 with. In the different sections the various nitrogenous, phosphatic, and 

 potassic manures are compared as regards their value for mangolds, as 

 also are various combinations of artificials, both with and without 

 farmyard manure. It is pointed out in the introduction that the task 

 of preparing - this summary has been a difficult one, and that it has 

 been found impossible to do more than call attention to the facts brought 

 out by the figures which have been examined. The experimental plots 

 were not, as a rule, arranged in duplicate series ; thus the figures gave 

 no indication of the extent to which the yield may have been influenced 

 by variations in the soil. When experiments are not in duplicate it is 

 impossible to draw satisfactory conclusions from the results, unless the 

 writer of the report has watched the crops growing and has noted 

 every circumstance that might affect the harvest results. When the 

 average of a large number of results is taken, errors compensate each 

 other, but in the case of the experiments here reviewed the numbers 

 were not sufficiently great to give results quite free from error, and 

 some of the conclusions to which the figures seem to point must, there- 

 fore, be accepted with caution. The Report, however, is one which 

 should be of value both to the student and to the farmer. 



Manuring of Mangolds (Midland Agric. and Dairy Coll., Reports on 

 Experiments with Crops and Stock, 1907-8). — The experiments con- 

 ducted in 1907 were a continuation of those begun in 1903. During 

 these five years all the principal practical points connected with the 

 proper use of artificial manures for the production of mangolds have 

 been tested, and it is considered that the results point to the following 

 combination of artificial manures as likely to give the best results to 

 the farmer using it in addition to farmyard manure : — Sulphate of 

 ammonia (at seeding), 100 lb., or an amount equal to 20 lb. of nitrogen; 

 nitrate of soda (at singling), 130 lb., or an amount equal to 20 lb. 

 nitrogen; superphosphate (at seeding), 715 lb., or an amount equal to 

 90 lb. phosphoric acid; sulphate of potash (at seeding), 127 lb., or an 

 amount equal to 60 lb. potash ; and common salt (in March), 280 lb. 

 The quantities in each case are given per acre. 



Taking the 1907 trials alone, the results appear to show that it does 

 not pay to include more than 90 lb. phosphoric acid (about 6^ cwt. 

 superphosphate), nor more than 60 lb. potash (about 120 lb. sulphate 

 of potash) in the dressing per acre. Both the phosphate and the potash 

 are better applied shortly before seeding rather than in March. In a 

 good brairding season, common salt applied at seeding- time does 

 equally well as the same applied in March. 



Manuring of Mangolds (Harper-Adams Agric. Coll., Field Experi- 

 ments, 1908). — Trials, which are being continued, were commenced in 

 1907 to ascertain what top dressings can be economically used in con- 

 junction with a standard dressing of manure. The standard dressing 

 was composed of 3^ cwt. dissolved bone, 1 cwt. sulphate of potash, and 

 1 cwt. sulphate of ammonia per acre. Top dressings of nitrate of soda 

 and superphosphate were applied in varying quantities and in three 

 dressings. While it is considered too early to draw definite conclusions, 



