THE MANURING- OF MARKET-GARDEN CROPS. 



1041 



of our experiments, in all of the seasons during which we have grown 

 this crop, show that it is unsatisfactory to attempt to dispense altogether 

 with the use of dung. By far the best results have been obtained by 

 the use, in conjunction, of a light dressing of dung and of a suitable 

 quantity of chemical fertilisers. Very heavy dunging, on the other hand, 

 has, as in so many other cases, proved to be not only extravagant but 

 unsatisfactory as compared with the mixed system of manuring. 



In our first three series of experiments the quantities of nitrate of 

 soda used in conjunction with other fertilisers were 1 cwt., 2 cwt., and 

 4 cwt. per acre respectively, the 4 cwt. giving, on the average, the best 

 crop. For the crop of 1900 the dressings of nitrate were 2 cwt., 4 cwt., 

 and 6 cwt. per acre. The increase, however, from 4 cwt. to 6 cwt. did 

 not give, on the average, any remunerative result. 



The following table exhibits the average results obtained in the five 

 seasons with dung alone (in heavy quantity and in light quantity), and 

 with light dung supplemented by a mixture of chemical fertilisers includ- 

 ing 2 cwt. and 4 cwt. of nitrate of soda per acre respectively. 



It will be observed that the results are given in three columns. The 

 first column shows the total weight of Onions per acre ; the second 

 column shows the weight of sound marketable bulbs ; and the third 

 shows the quantity of unsound or unmarketable bulbs. In some seasons, 

 as is well known to market gardeners, a certain proportion of Tripoli 

 Onions become " bull-necked," or start a second growth. Such Onions 

 will not keep, and although, if grown in a kitchen garden, they may be 

 used at home, they would not be saleable in the market, since dealers will 

 only take sound bulbs which may be relied upon not to go soft or bad. 

 We have therefore, in dealing with our Tripoli Onions, always taken care 

 to sort out the marketable bulbs from the unmarketable bulbs, and the 

 quantities of both are recorded in the following table. It is notable that 

 in the years 1900 and 1901 no such division was necessary, as the whole 

 of our crop was marketable. But this is an unusually good condition of 

 things with Tripoli Onions. 



TRIPOLI ONIONS. 



Annual manuring per acre 



Annual cost 

 of manure 

 per acre 



Average weight of Onions per acre 

 per annum (five seasons) 



Total weight 

 of bulbs 



Sound 

 marketable 

 bulbs 



Unsound 

 or unmarket- 

 able bulbs 



50 loads (25 tons) London Dung 

 25 loads (12| tons) London Dung 

 25 loads Dung, Phosphates (no Pot- 

 ash), and 2 cwt. Nitrate of Soda 

 Ditto, ditto (with Potash) . 

 25 loads Dung, Phosphates (no Pot- 

 ash), and 4 cwt. Nitrate of Soda 

 Ditto, ditto (with Potash) . 



£ s. (1. 

 10 0 0 

 5 0 0 



G 15 0 

 7 5 0 



7 15 0 



8 5 0 



tons cwt. 



12 9 

 8 12 



12 11 

 12 14 



12 1G 



13 9 



tons cwt. 



10 10 

 7 16 



11 3 

 11 7 



10 14 



11 1 



tons cwt. 

 1 19 

 1G 



1 8 



1 7 



2 2 

 2 8 



It will be seen that the heaviest total crop was, on the average, 

 produced by the plots which, in addition to a moderate dressing of dung, 

 have received a mixture of chemical fertilisers consisting of phosphates, 

 potash salts, and 4 cwt. of nitrate of soda per acre, but that the most 



R 



