1909.] Summary of Agricultural Experiments. 403 



nitrate of soda. In consequence of the striking results obtained at the 

 Pot-culture Station in regard to the influence of magnesia, it was re- 

 solved to try its effects also in the field. 



The variety of potato grown was "Table Talk," and six different 

 plots were manured alike with a general dressing comprised of, per 

 acre: farmyard manure, 12 tons; superphosphate, 3 cwts. ; and sulphate 

 of potash, 1 cwt. 



In addition to this general manuring, three plots (Nos. 1, 2, and 3) 

 had further nitrogenous applications in the respective forms of sulphate 

 of ammonia, nitrate of soda, and calcium cyanamide. The basis of 

 comparison was 1 cwt. per acre of sulphate of ammonia, the amounts 

 of nitrate of soda (142 lb. per acre) and calcium cyanamide (128 lb. per 

 acre) applied containing the same amount of nitrogen as did the 1 cwt. 

 of sulphate of ammonia. 



Plot 4 received the general dressing only, while plots 5 and 6 received, 

 in addition, 3 cwts. and 6 cwts. per acre of ground magnesia. 



The lowest produce was with the standard dressing only. Of the 

 three different nitrogenous applications, decidedly the best was sulphate 

 of ammonia, the extra nitrogen supplied in this increasing the crop by 



1 ton 12 cwts. per acre ; nitrate of soda, giving the same nitrogen, im- 

 proved the yield by 1 ton 2 cwts., and calcium cyanamide by 8 cwts. 



2 qrs. only. The superiority of sulphate of ammonia to nitrate of soda 

 for the potato crop, so far at least as the Woburn soil is concerned, 

 has been shown before, and it now appears hardly likely that calcium 

 cyanamide will prove as good as either, presuming its nitrogen to cost 

 the same as that in sulphate of ammonia. 



The results obtained from the use of magnesia are very remarkable ; 



3 cwts. of magnesia per acre increased the crop by 13 cwts., although 

 no more nitrogen was used, and 6 cwts. per acre of magnesia gave no 

 less an increase than 1 ton 5 cwts., the crop being the second largest 

 one of the whole series. Thus 3 cwts. per acre of magnesia showed 

 itself superior to 1 cwt. of calcium cyanamide, and 6 cwts. of mag- 

 nesia per acre acted better than did if cwts. of nitrate of soda. The 

 results obtained with magnesia will be further tested. 



Planting Potatoes (Lanes. C.C., Agricultural Department, Bulletin 

 No. 10). — This Bulletin gives the results of the experiments with seed 

 potatoes which have been carried on for the four years 1905-8. The two 

 points investigated were the effect of change of seed, and the benefits 

 of boxing and sprouting. 



The conclusions arrived at are as follows : — 



1. — Seed potatoes brought from a northern to a southern latitude give 

 a much larger crop than do those brought from a southern to a northerrt 

 latitude. 



2. — The yield from Irish-grown seed sprouted, though highly satis- 

 factory, is, on the average, below that from the Scottish-grown seed 

 sprouted. It is evident, however, that Ireland may become, in the near 

 future, a strong competitor with Scotland as a source of seed potatoes 

 for Lancashire, especially if the respective costs of transit are taken into 

 consideration. 



3* — Seed potatoes obtained from localities within the county fail on 

 the average to produce crops as large as those obtained from Scottish- 

 or Irish-grown seed. 



F F 2 



