3i6 



Official Circulars and Notices. 



[JULY, 



of farmyard manure alone. The most satisfactory mixture in these 

 experiments as a supplement to 10 tons of dung consisted of 3 cwt. 

 superphosphate (30 per cent soluble), basic slag containing citric soluble 

 phosphoric acid equal to that contained in the 3 cwt. superphosphate, 

 1.$ cwt. sulphate of potash (94 per cent, purity), and if cwt. sulphate 

 of ammonia. Giving half the phosphate in the form of basic slag 

 instead of applying the whole as superphosphate, gave a somewhat 

 better return. 



With regard to the potash manures, neither the potash manure salt 

 containing 30 per cent, pure potash nor muriate of potash proved such 

 a suitable or profitable potash manure for the potato crop as sulphate 

 of potash of 94 per cent, purity. 



Calcium cyanamide, when applied in quantities equivalent to 1 cwt. 

 sulphate of ammonia, showed itself on a number of farms quite as 

 effective as the latter manure, or even more so, but on other farms 

 it proved inferior. If applied in larger quantity it produced no further 

 increase in crop, and showed itself less effective than equal quantities 

 of sulphate of ammonia. 



Nitrate of lime showed itself to be a very effective manure, and 

 has also given results in one year equal to those produced by sulphate 

 of ammonia. 



Manuring of Potatoes (Wilts. C.C., Results of Field Manurial 

 Demonstrations, 1908-9). — Twelve sets of experiments were carried out 

 at six centres in this county, eight plots being laid out in each set. 

 One plot received no artificial manure, one plot received a complete 

 dressing comprising kainit, superphosphate, and sulphate of ammonia; 

 three plots received dressings composed of two of these manures, and 

 three plots dressings of each manure alone. The quantities in each 

 case were as follows : — Kainit, 5! cwt. ; superphosphate, 45 cwt. ; sul- 

 phate of ammonia, if cwt. In a second series of experiments on the 

 same lines, if cwt. of sulphate of potash was substituted for the 

 kainit. 



The results at the different centres were somewhat irregular, and 

 the weather was generally unfavourable. In both series the plots which 

 received "the complete dressing gave on the whole the best results, 

 followed by the plots which received sulphate of ammonia with potash 

 or superphosphate. 



OFFICIAL CIRCULARS AND NOTICES. 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries desire to give publicity to 

 the fact that the first caterpillars of the Large Larch Saw-fly (Nematus 

 Erichsoni, Hart.) were seen this year on the 

 Appearance of jgfa j une> They are now probably to be found 



Saw^ff in aH plaC€S infested with this P est > and 



*' owners of larch plantations should arrange to 



have their trees examined with a view to the discovery of the pest, 



which must be notified to the Board in conformity with the Destructive 



Insects and Pests Order of 19 10. A memorandum explaining the 



means of detecting the caterpillar and of distinguishing it from other 



pests of the larch can be obtained free on application to the Secretary, 



Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 4 Whitehall Place, London, S.W. 



