492 Summary of Agricultural Experiments, [sept., 



manuring of the plots has been rearranged, and the figures for 1908 

 are given in the above publication. 



During the three years 1906-8 four drills of cabbage were grown in the 

 centre of the mangold plots, and received the same dressings throughout 

 as the different plots of mangolds. 



These trials appear to show that 10 to 12 tons dung, 1 cwt. sulphate 

 of ammonia, 4 cwt. slag, and 1 cwt. muriate of potash, all applied in 

 the drills, with the addition of cwt. nitrate of soda applied in two 

 top dressings, would make a good dressing per acre for cabbages. On 

 the heavier classes of soils muriate of potash might be omitted. 

 Common salt (2 cwt. per acre) increased the crop in 1908, but not in the 

 two previous years. 



Varieties of Swedes and Turnips (Northumberland C.C., Guide to 

 Expts. at Cockle Park, 1909). — The average yield and composition of 

 four different varieties of swedes in the six years 1903-8 are given, as 

 well as the results from a number of varieties in 1908, and the average 

 percentage of dry matter found in five varieties during the past nine 

 years. 



Potato Trials (Harper- Adams Agric. College, Field Expts., 1908). — 

 Experiments on a number of different points were carried out in 1908. 

 The following is a summary of the conclusions arrived at : — (1) That 

 immature home-grown seed is superior to mature home-grown ; (2) 

 that it pays to box seed potatoes ; (3) that Scotch seed obtained from 

 Dumfriesshire is superior to all other classes of seed ; (4) that sulphate 

 of ammonia is a better form in which to apply nitrogen than nitrate 

 of soda ; (5) that varying quantities of potash manures do not affect 

 the quality of a crop as much as a nitrogenous manure applied alone; 



(6) that when muriate of potash is used, nitrate of soda is preferable 

 to sulphate of ammonia, the tubers being better in quality; and 



(7) that the best varieties of 1908 were Midlothian Early, Colleen, 

 Factor, and Conquering Hero. 



The results of potato trials conducted in Staffordshire are also given. 



Potato Trials (Midland Agric. College, Report on Expts., 1907-8, 

 and Bull. 3, 1908-9). — In 1907 a comparison of Scotch, Irish, and home- 

 grown seed gave results much in favour of Irish seed. The trials were 

 repeated in 1908, when the yields of the Scotch and Irish seed were 

 practically the same, both exceeding the yield of the English seed. 



Experiments in manuring have been carried on for several years, 

 and the conclusions arrived at are given in the Report for 1907-8. The 

 most profitable mixture for use with 10-15 tons °f dung is considered 

 to be 1^ cwt. sulphate of ammonia, 4 cwt. superphosphate, and 1 or 



cwt. sulphate of potash. 



Potato Trials (Univ. Coll. of N. Wales, Bangor, Agric. Dept. Bull. 

 9, 1908). — An experiment was carried out with potato seed obtained 

 from ten different districts with a view to test the effect of locality on 

 the yield. This experiment is being continued. 



Seed of different sizes was also compared with cut seed. In 1907 

 large seed produced over a ton of marketable potatoes more than either 

 of the other plots, an increase just sufficient to compensate for the 

 extra quantity of seed required in planting, but in 1908 the large seed 

 produced the smallest quantity of marketable potatoes. The cut seed 



