Efficacy of Bones and of Poittevhis Manure. 269 



The strictest impartiality was observed throughout in hoeing and manag- 

 ing the crop. 



The third experiment was tried upon Mr. Robert Graves's farm at 

 Bloxholm, near Sleaford, upon a field of sandy soil on a thin shelly 

 rock, which had been prepared for swede turnips ; he applied 12 bushels 

 only of Poittevin's manure upon one acre of land, and 12 bushels of 

 bones upon an acre close adjoining. As in the two former cases, the 

 Poittevin-manure plants took the lead considerably in growth, and upon 

 weighing the produce in the spring there appeared — 



Tons. Cwt. 



Of swede turnips from 12 bushels of Poltteviii's manure 11 0 per acre. 

 Of ditto from 12 bushels of bones 10 5 „ 



The result of these experiments proves that, upon light soils, Poitte- 

 vin's manure is eminently successful; and I attribute its failure upon 

 Mr. Mason's farm chiefly to the strong clayey nature of the soil. 



The tenants desire me to thank you for the encouragement you have 

 given them in these experiments, which have been both interesting and 

 useful to them. 



I remain, Sir, 



Your faithful servant, 



John Higgins. 



Alford, 30th March, 1841, 



Note. — These experiments, however satisfactory, do not, in my opinion, 

 prove the superiority of Poittevin's manure over that of bones ; for lam in- 

 clined to think that the bones will have a future effect upon the land of a 

 more beneficial nature than that of the disinfected manure, and this cannot 

 be fairly ascertained until the returns be given of the next three years. The 

 present spring crops will no doubt be barley, followed by clover ; and I would 

 submit to the Council the propriety of requesting Mr. Christopher, not only 

 to obtain from his tenants exact statements of their several product, but to 

 get them to sow the clover ley with wheat of the same kind and quantity, 

 and to till the land in a similar manner. — J. French Burke. 



3. Experiment on the Growth of Swedes. By Henry C. 



CoMPTONj M.P. 



Purple-iop Sivede, sown June 15, 1840. Produce weighed March 

 20, 1841. Soil heavy, on a clay subsoil, land not drained. 



The field was ploughed in balk ; one set of balks at 27 inches apart, 

 and the other set at 36 inches apart, from the centre of one balk to the 

 centre of the other. On the balk at 27 inches apart there was but one 

 row of turnips sown, and on those at 36 inches two rows, each row 

 being 12 inches apart, so as to allow of their being horse-hoed. A 

 double-breasted plough was afterwards run down between all the balks 

 to clear out the furrows and to earth up the turnips. 



