CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE WISLEY LABORATORY. 317 



Turnips were used for this experiment, the variety 'White Stone ' 

 being chosen. Four rows were sown on each plot, 3 grams of seed 

 being sown in each row. The seed was sown on July 16, and the 

 plants were up on all plots on July 19. The plants grew away well, 

 and except 11B and 11D none suffered from the attack of any pest. 

 On the two plots mentioned some of the seedlings were destroyed 

 by birds. 



All the plots were thinned on August 4 and the thinnings weighed, 

 the plants being left about 9 inches apart. 



They were left to grow, with the watering and hoeing already 

 alluded to at intervals, until September 28, when all were lifted and 

 weighed. A few plants died on some of the plots, so the plants were 

 counted as they were pulled and the average weights used as a 

 basis of comparison. 



The following table shows the action of the various treatments 

 on stimulating early growth : — 



Weight of Thinnings Removed from Plots Aug. 4, 1914. 



Plot. 



Dressing. 



Group A. 



Group B. 



Group C. 



Group D. 



Total. 



Relat. 

 Wts. 



Relat. 

 Posi- 

 tion. 







Grms. 



Grms. 



Grms. 



Grms. 



Grms. 







I 



Bact. peat 



3,815 



2,900 



3,105 



3,650 



13,470 



79 



6 



2 



Bact. peat and farm- 



















yard manure . 



4.425 



3,690 



4,215 



4,56o 



16,890 



100 



1 



3 



Farmyard manure 



4.3IO 



3,34° 



3,915 



4,405 



15,970 



95 



2 



4 



Farmyard manure and 

















artificials 



4,420 



3,36o 



3,900 



4,060 



15,740 



93 



3 



5 



No manure 



3,78o 



2,940 



2,885 



3,825 



13,430 



79 



6 



6 



Lime 



2,915 



3.IOO 



2,390 



3,215 



11,620 



69 



9 



7 



Bact. peat and lime . 



4,030 



3,205 



2,665 



4,260 



14,160 



83 



4 



8 



Bact. peat 



3.2IO 



3,275 



2,590 



3,465 



12,540 



74 



8 



9 



No manure 



2,890 



2,630 



1,890 



3,200 



10,610 



63 



10 



10 



Farmyard manure 



3,285 



3,495 



2,840 



3,920 





80 



5 



11 



Artificials . 



3,430 



3,095* 



5,400f 



2,6i 5 *t 



i 3 .5 ? 40 







Arranging these results in order, we find the plots that received 

 both peat and farmyard manure at the top, followed closely by those 

 that had farmyard manure alone, farmyard manure and artificials, 

 and then peat and lime. All these were artificially watered. 

 Following these and very close together come farmyard manure with- 

 out artificial watering, peat with water, and the watered no manure 

 plots. Then in order come peat without water, lime with water, 

 and no manure without water. 



The effect of the farmyard manure in stimulating growth in the 

 early stages is most remarkable. It must, of course, be remembered 

 that a great amount of water is held in the farmyard manure when 

 it is applied to the soil, and this must have had some influence in 

 stimulating early growth, but at the same time it is clear that none of 

 the plots suffered from drought in the very early stages, as a shower 



* These had been interfered with by birds. 



t A shower fell before these could be pulled, and the figures are therefore 

 not comparable with those of the other rows. 



vol. XLI. y 



