58 Influence of Manures on Pasture 



10. Basic slag put on in the middle of June had much 

 more effect than the same quantity applied in winter. Whether 

 this result is of general application can only be determined 

 by further experiments. 



1 1 . Where a direct comparison has been made between the 

 effects of equal quantities of phosphoric acid derived from 

 basic slag and superphosphate respectively, the former 

 manure has always produced the greater amount of live- 

 weight increase. When the cost of the manure is taken into 

 account, the profits from the use of basic slag have always 

 been much greater than those from superphosphate. 



12. Potash added to a phosphatic dressing generally 

 resulted in the production of more live-weight increase, but 

 this increase was not a profitable one. The expediency of 

 using potash on pastures — as contrasted with meadows — 

 therefore, receives no support from these experiments. 



13. The addition of moderate dressings of sulphate of 

 ammonia or nitrate of soda to land already treated with 

 phosphate has increased the yield of herbage, but has, as a 

 rule, reduced the yield of mutton. The use of nitrogenous 

 manures on pasture would, therefore, appear to be bad 

 practice. 



14. Dissolved bones compare badly with basic slag and 

 superphosphate. This is doubtless due to two reasons : 

 (a) the slower action of part of their phosphate, and (b) the 

 presence of nitrogen. But the nitrogen of dissolved bones, 

 being less active than that of sulphate of ammonia, the general 

 effect on the sheep of the dissolved bones has been better than 

 that of a mixture of superphosphate and sulphate of ammonia. 

 The use, however, of dissolved bones on pasture would seldom 

 appear to be justified, and especially so as their phosphoric 

 acid costs more than the same substance in basic slag. 



In conclusion I have to express my thanks to Mr. Ashcroft 

 and Professor Gilchrist for having read proofs of this Report, 

 and for useful suggestions which they have submitted. 



RICHARD CLAY AND SONS, LTD. 



LND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK. 



