1046 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Effect of Chemical Fertilisers as an adjunct to, or substitute for, 

 Dung. — The following table shows the average crop of Asparagus produced 

 during the first three years. For simplicity's sake the salt or non-potash 

 plots are omitted. 



ASPARAGUS. 



Average of first three seasons (1897 to 1899). 



Plot 



Aunual manuring per acre 



Annual cost 

 of manure 

 per acre 



Bundles 

 per acre 



Weight 

 per bundle 







£ s. d. 





oz. 



F 



50 loads (25 tons) London Dung 

 25 loads (12| tons) London Dung 



10 0 0 



1,296 



17-6 



E 



5 0 0 



1,324 



173 



A 



25 loads Dung, Phosphates, Potash, and 











1 cwt. Nitrate of Soda .... 



6 15 0 



1,355 



19-9 



B 



25 loads Dung, Phosphates, Potash, and 











2 cwt. Nitrate of Soda .... 



7 5 0 



1,073 



20-6 



D 



25 loads Dung, Phosphates, Potash, and 











4 cwt. Nitrate of Soda .... 



8 5 0 



1,490 



20-7 



C 



No Dung; Phosphates, Potash, and 











4 cwt. Nitrate of Soda .... 



3 5 0 



1,168 



21-7 



During these three years the effect of chemical fertilisers in increasing 

 the size of, the shoots, as compared with those obtained with dung only, 

 was most marked ; and though, for reasons already discussed, we cannot 

 attach a great deal of value to the indications afforded by the number of 

 bundles obtained per acre, it is nevertheless worth noting that the most 

 liberal treatment, namely that on plot D, actually gave the best results in 

 quantity as well as in weight. 



During the next three years, as the plant became more vigorous 

 and its demand for food presumably greater, we increased the supply of 

 nitrate on each plot ; but, curiously enough, the effect of the chemical 

 fertilisers during the last three years on the dunged plots has not been 

 appreciable, either as regards numerical yield or as regards the weight 

 per bundle. 



The results obtained during the last three years are shown in the 

 following table : — 



ASPARAGUS. 

 Average of last three seasons (1900 to 1902). 



Plot 



Annual manuring per acre 



F 50 loads (25 tons) London Dung 

 E 25 loads (12£ tons) London Dung 

 A 25 loads Dung, Phosphates, Potash 



2 cwt. Nitrate of Soda . 

 B 25 loads Dung, Phosphates, Potash 



4 cwt. Nitrate of Soda 

 D 25 loads Dang, Phosphates, Potash 



6 cwt. Nitrate of Soda 

 C No Dung ; Phosphates, Potash, and 



8 cwt. Nitrate of Soda 



and 

 and 

 and 



Annual cost 

 of manure 

 per acre 



£ i. d. 



10 0 0 



5 0 0 



7 5 0 



8 5 0 



9 5 0 



Bundles 

 per acre 



2,795 

 2,848 



2,628 



2,643 



2,719 



5 5 0 2,341 



Weight 

 per bundle 



18- 3 



19- 1 



18-9 

 18-6 



18- 1 



19- 9 



