Manuring of Clover Hay. 



485- 



The manures employed and the quantities applied per 

 acre were as follows : — 



Kainit 5 cwt, sulphate of potash 140 lbs., muriate of 

 potash 120 lbs., sulphate of ammonia 1 cwt, nitrate of soda 

 144 lbs., and basic slag 4 cwt. At each centre these 

 manures were tried separately on six of the experimental 

 plots. On three additional plots the basic slag was combined 

 with 2 cwts. per acre of muriate of potash, the combination 

 being applied alone on one plot, and on the remaining two 

 plots with sulphate of ammonia (1 cwt. per acre) and nitrate 

 of soda (144 lbs. per acre) respectively. A plot at three 

 of the centres was also devoted to a trial of "nitragin," a 

 preparation sold for the inoculation of the soil with the 

 organisms that inhabit the nodules on the roots of clover and 

 other leguminous plants. Owing to the dry season the 

 influence of the manures was to a large extent minimised ; 

 and of the four centres, the results obtained at Driffield are 

 considered the most valuable. There the land was very 

 uniform, and the manures had a more marked effect in. 

 changing the botanical composition of the crop than at any 

 other centre. 



From a summary of the general results of the experi- 

 ment, it appears that all three forms of potash increased 

 decidedly the yield on the chalk at Driffield. At mowing 

 time there was a striking difference between the appearance 

 of the potash plots and the others. Potash greatly favoured 

 the development of red clover, which suppressed to a large 

 extent the yellow trefoil. 



Sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of soda had no marked 

 effect upon the yield of clover. 



Basic slag, when used alone, appeared to reduce, rather 

 than to increase, the crop. A mixture of 4 cwt. basic slag 

 and 2 cwt. muriate of potash yielded a substantial increase ^ 

 and a somewhat similar mixture can be recommended 

 for application to clover-sick land. The addition of 

 either sulphate of ammonia or nitrate of soda to a mixture of 

 basic slag and muriate of potash yielded very little better 

 results than a mixture of basic slag and muriate of potash 

 alone. Nitragin did not increase the crop. 



