364 



chief use of these fertilisers lies in their supplying that par- 

 ticular constituent of the plant's food which happens to be 

 most deficient in any given soil ; the backbone, as it may be 

 termed, of the manure being formed of dung. Some sugges- 

 tions are given as regards the manuring of the principal 

 crops grown in Ireland. 



An important constituent of the food of turnips is phos- 

 phates, but in many soils an adequate supply of this 

 ingredient is lacking. The requirements of the crop, how- 

 ever, in this direction, where it gets a fair dressing of dung, 

 may generally be satisfied by the application of 4 cwts. ol 

 25 per cent, superphosphate per acre. On stiff, heavy land 

 an addition of nitrate of soda is also advisable. When tur- 

 nips are grown without dung, a mixture of 4 cwts. of 25 per 

 cent, superphosphate, 2 cwts. of bone flour or fine bone meal, 



3 cwts. of kainit, J cwt. of nitrate of soda, and \ cwt. of 

 sulphate of ammonia should suit most soils. 



Although mangolds resemble turnips in the matter of 

 cultivation and in the purpose for which they are grown,, 

 they differ entirely in their manurial treatment. Nitrogen is 

 the ingredient which the mangold has most difficulty in 

 obtaining, and this should be applied in the form of nitrate 

 of soda after the mangolds are thinned. The quantity 

 required will vary according to the condition of the land and 

 the amount of farmyard manure supplied. 



The potato is a general feeder and requires a complete 

 manure. A mixture of 1 cwt. of sulphate of ammonia,. 



4 cwts. of 25 per cent, superphosphate, and 1 cwt. muriate or 

 sulphate of potash has been found to give very good results. 

 These proportions should be varied according to the condition, 

 of the land and the amount of dung applied. 



The oat crop requires in the first place an adequate supply 

 of nitrogen for its growth ; but this element seldom exists in 

 the soil in proper quantities and in a suitable form for assimi- 

 lation by the plant. The deficiency may, however, be 

 supplied by the application of nitrate of soda or sulphate of 

 ammonia. On land in fair condition 1 cwt. of nitrate of soda or 

 of sulphate of ammonia will usually give a profitable return ;. 

 but poorer classes of soil will probably require 2 cwts. of super- 



