1910.] Summary of Agricultural Experiments. 145 



Effect of Change of Seed on Oats (Univ. Coll. of N. Wales, Bangor, 

 Bull. 2, 1909).— In 1905, 1907, 1908, and 1909, Abundance oats obtained 

 from ten to thirteen different districts of the British Isles were sown on 

 adjoining" plots in the same field at Madryn, alongside a plot sown 

 with home-grown seed. The yields varied each year, but the differences 

 between the plots were small, and not greater than might be obtained 

 on any similar number of plots of the same size sown with the same 

 seed. Professor Winter concludes that no advantage is gained by 

 changing seed oats in cases where home-grown seed, well dressed and 

 of good quality, can be obtained. 



The plots have usually been cut on the same day, and at the outside 

 the plot last to ripen has never been more than" a few days behind the 

 earliest. The experiments have not, therefore, given support to the 

 view often expressed that harvest may be hastened by obtaining seed, 

 from an earlier district. 



Experiments with Root Crops. 



Varieties of Mangolds (Midland Agric. and Dairy Coll., Bull. 3, 

 1909-10). — Eight varieties were compared in 1909 on seven farms. The 

 season was unfavourable and the mangold crop in the Midlands 

 was as a whole much below the average. The heaviest crop (31 tons 

 16 cwt. per acre) was given by Prizewinner Globe, and although its per- 

 centage of dry matter was almost the lowest, this variety, owing to its 

 heavy crop, produced the greatest total yield of dry matter per acre, 

 viz., 5546 lb. Windsor Globe was next with 29 tons 7 cwt. per acre, 

 and 5436 lb. per acre of dry matter. The percentage of "bolted" roots 

 was higher than in Prizewinner. Golden Tankard had the highest 

 percentage of dry matter, but the smallest yield (20 tons 17 cwt.), and 

 consequently the total dry matter produced was less- than with any other 

 variety, viz., 4579 lb. In the five years over which the trials have 

 extended, Prizewinner has each year given the largest average yield. 

 The trials appear at present to show that the best quality mangolds— 

 the Tankards — do not produce so much dry matter per acre as the roots, 

 giving a larger yield but with a lower percentage of dry matter, These 

 experiments suggest, therefore, that the farmer's object should be to- 

 produce the largest possible quantity of roots per acre, consistent with 

 fair quality. 



Manuring of Mangolds (Somerset C.C., Rept. on Field Trials of 

 Manures, 1904-8). — The object of this experiment was to determine 

 whether artificials can be profitably used to supplement the usual 

 dressing of dung. The experiment was conducted in all on thirty-five 

 farms, with a variety of soils, mostly, however, inclined to be heavy. 

 The land usually received from twenty to twenty-five loads of dung to the 

 acre, the cultivation and seeding in each case following the usual prac- 

 tice of the particular farm. The plots were one-sixteenth of an acre, ten 

 plots being laid out on each farm. The artificials applied were nitrate 

 of soda, superphosphate, kainit, and salt, alone and in combination. 



The average crop produced by the dung alone was 28 tons 8 cwt. 

 per acre. The greatest increase on this, 7 tons 14 cwt., was produced 

 by 2 cwt. nitrate of soda, 3 cwt. superphosphate, and 3 cwt. salt per 

 acre (Plot 8), and the next, 7 tons 3 cwt., by the same mixture but with 

 3 cwt. kainit instead of the salt (Plot 7). Valuing the mangolds at 8s.. 



