THE MANURING OF MARKET-GARDEN CROPS. 



1013 



In 1900 and 1901 we had plots receiving 6 cwt. of nitrate of soda per 

 acre in addition to phosphates and potash salts. In 1900 the extra 

 nitrate did no good, but in 1901 the increase was profitable as compared 

 with the lighter dressings. 



It will be seen that, on the average, there has been very little 

 difference between the yields of the lightly and heavily dunged plots, but 

 that the use of moderate dressings of chemical fertilisers, in addition to 

 the light dunging, has produced a decidedly better result than the heavy 

 dunging, and at much less expense. Let us, however, regard the 

 average results obtained with chemical fertilisers alone, as compared with 

 those obtained on the dunged plots : — 



SPRING CABBAGES. 











Average weight of Cabbages per acre 





Annual cost of 

 manure per acre 







Annual manuring per acre 



Five years 



Two years 











(1895-1899) 



(1900 and 1901) 





£ 





d. 



tons cwt. 



tons cwt. 



50 loads (25 tons) London Dung 

 25 loads (12| tons) London Dung . 



10 



b 



0 



16 2 



21 0 



5 



0 



0 



15 12 



19 17 



25 loads Dung, Phosphates (no 

 Potash), and 4 cwt. Nitrate of 

























7 



15 



0 



17 4 



19 1 



Ditto, ditto (with Potash) 



8 



5 



0 



18 0 



21 3 



No Dung ; Phosphates (no Potash) 













and 4 cwt. Nitrate of Soda . 



2 



15 



0 



16 13 





Ditto, ditto (with Potash) 



3 



5 



0 



17 14 





No Dung ; Phosphates (no Potash) 













and 8 cwt. Nitrate of Soda . 



4 



15 



0 





20 6 



Ditto, ditto (with Potash) 



5 



5 



0 





20 17 



Obviously the most economical plots have been those on which no 

 dung at all was used. 



There is very little difference between the plots receiving chemical 

 fertilisers with dung and those receiving chemical fertilisers without 

 dung. 



We have already expressed our opinion that for ordinary Autumn 

 Cabbages a light dressing of dung, even when plenty of phosphates and 

 nitrate are used, appears to be of distinct advantage. This would seem to 

 be also the case with Savoys. On the other hand, however, no tangible 

 advantage appears to be derived from applying a special dressing of dung 

 for Spring Cabbages. One reason for the difference, probably, is that the 

 life of the ordinary Autumn Cabbage is confined to the summer and 

 autumn. It is raised on the seed-bed in spring and planted out in 

 summer, maturing in the autumn. Its growth thus takes place during 

 the hottest months of the year. The mechanical effects of dung in 

 retaining moisture, therefore, during dry hot weather — apart from the 

 fertilising value that it possesses — may often be of great utility to this 

 crop, and this would partly be the case during the dry seasons that have 

 prevailed during the greater part of our experimental period. It is quite 

 possible, however, that in wet seasons, or in wetter districts, the use of 

 dung for Autumn Cabbages might not show so great an advantage. 



