191 1.] Summary of Agricultural Experiments. 775 



manured plot. Omitting nitrate of soda decreased the yield, but so 

 slightly that the profit from the use of sulphate of potash and super- 

 phosphate was greater than that from the complete dressing. The 

 results on plots where the three manures were used singly confirmed 

 the conclusion that the principal requirement of the soil was phos- 

 phates. Ten tons of dung applied in 1903 and 1907 without other 

 manuring produced a yield in eight years of 13 tons 6 cwt. of hay, 

 with a net profit of gs. Where, in addition to the dung, the com- 

 plete dressing of artificials was given in the years between 1903 and 

 1907 and after 1907, a yield of 16 tons 8 cwt. of hay was obtained — 

 the highest during the experiment — with a net profit of £6 7s. It will 

 be seen that this is less profitable than the complete dressing of arti- 

 ficials in every year. 



An experiment ' was commenced in 1909 to ascertain the effect of 

 potassic superphosphate compared with superphosphate and kainit 

 together, but no definite conclusions can as yet be drawn from it. 



Manuring of Barley (Field Expts. in Staffordshire and Shropshire 

 and at the Harper Adams Agric. Coll., Rept., 1910). — Potassic super- 

 phosphate was compared with a mixture of potash and superphosphate 

 in 1909 and 1910 for barley, the soil being a medium loam, very 

 suitable for the crop. A dressing of kainit, superphosphate, and 

 sulphate of ammonia proved very slightly superior to a dressing of 

 potassic superphosphate and sulphate of ammonia having the same 

 composition as the former dressing. The yields from potassic super- 

 phosphate and superphosphate having the same money value were 

 almost identical. As regards the nitrogenous manure to be used along 

 with potassic superphosphate, sulphate of ammonia proved best in 

 1909, and nitrate of soda in 19 10, the difference between these two 

 manures and nitrate of lime in 19 10 being hardly noticeable. 



Manuring of Mangolds (Field Expts. in Staffordshire and Shropshire 

 and at the Harper Adams Agric. Coll., Rept., 19 10). — A series of trials 

 upon the value of top dressings in conjunction with a complete manur- 

 ing for the mangold crop was continued in 19 10. The highest average 

 result was obtained by the combined use of nitrate of soda and super- 

 phosphate as a top dressing. Superphosphate as a top dressing in 

 combination with other manures gave somewhat variable results- 

 Applied as a top dressing with farmyard manure, superphosphate gave 

 a profitable return, either alone, or with 1 cwt. nitrate of soda. Nitrate 

 of lime gave, on the whole, better results than nitrate of soda as a 

 top dressing. 



Various compound manures were tested for the mangold crop in 

 1909 and 1910. The composition of these manures and the resulting 

 crops are given in the report. 



Potassic superphosphate, basic slag, and superphosphate were 

 compared as manures for mangolds in 1908, 1909, and 1910, with 

 results, on the average, in favour of basic slag. / 



Manuring of Grass Land (Experiments at Kineton, Warwick, 191 1). 

 — The land on which this experiment is conducted by Mr. Ernest Parke 

 had at the start been laid down in grass for about ten years, and was 

 in very poor condition owing to neglect of manuring. Artificial 

 manures have been used every year since 190 1, and the results on the 

 hay crop during the subsequent ten years are considered in this report 



