202 Use of Nitrate of Soda as a Top-dressing for Wheat. 



quantity. In 1850, 6 st. of nitrate and 16 st. of salt produced 

 the greatest increase of corn, and of course paid a greater per- 

 centage upon the outlay than the larger applications ; but in the 

 following year, 10 st. of nitrate and 20 st, of salt produced double 

 the increase of the 6 st. dressing ; and I am, therefore, inclined to 

 think that the season has much influence on the effects of nitrate 

 of soda when applied to grain crops, and the quantity which 

 would answer best this year may probably produce different 

 results in the following, with a different state of atmosphere 

 during the summer months. I shall, however, try the same ex- 

 periments again and again until something like a decided con- 

 clusion can be arrived at. I am this year applying, upon the 

 Holkham Park Farm, 7 st. of nitrate of soda and 16 st. of salt 

 upon nearly 400 acres of wheat, with the fullest confidence that 

 it will pay a large percentage upon the outlay, even with the 

 present prices of wheat. If you wish for any more information 

 upon this subject I shall be glad to give it you. 



I remain, dear Sir, yours faithfully, 



H. W. Keary. 



Holkham, March 21, 1852. 



XII. — On a New Method of Hoeing Turnips. By Philip Pusey. 



Before detailing an improved method of hoeing turnips dis- 

 covered by me during the leisure from public duties which has 

 been afforded me in the present month of July, it will be useful, 

 as some readers of this Journal may not be practical farmers, to 

 state the defects of the existing methods. 



According to the old-fashioned practice, still the most common 

 in this and I suppose some other counties, the turnips are sown 

 broad-cast. Afterwards, in order to thin out superfluous plants, 

 to get rid of weeds, and to keep the soil open, they require three 

 hoeings by hand, which cost together at least ten shillings per 

 acre, or half the average rent of English land. Nor is the expense 

 the least evil, for it is of course a slow process to move the whole 

 surface even of a single acre with the common hand-hoe. But on 

 a moderate farm a hundred acres often require this operation at 

 once ; the weather may be propitious and the want pressing. All 

 the hands on the farm are insufficient, and no others can be pro- 

 cured. The right time, therefore, for some of the work passes 

 by. Nay further, it happens constantly that a yet more urgent 

 necessity arises at the same time, the necessity for securing the 

 harvest. The turnips are left to themselves, the weeds almost 

 smother the crop, the surface of the ground becomes baked, and 

 the roots have soon suffered irremediably. 



