by Local Agricultural Societies. 
267 
increase in crop, but at a cost of over 17s. per ton (plot E) ; but 
a like quantity sown early gave 2 tons 8 cwt., at a cost of 
12s. Qd. only per ton (plot L). Half the quantity (| cwt.) 
sulphate of ammonia top-dressed, gave but a nominal increase 
of 2 cwt. per acre (plot B) at the fabulous cost of 8/. per ton — in 
other words, the manure was simply wasted ; but a like quantity 
sown with the seed (plot I), gave 2 tons of roots increase at 
10s. per ton. Potash was of no use. In fact it decreased the 
yield in plot F, as compared with that of plot H. In the case 
of plot G, the decrease is very great as compared with dung 
alone. In this case the IJ cwt. sulphate of potash per acre was 
associated with J cwt. sulphate of ammonia. The season 
was very dry, and it is possible that the saline matters being 
but slowly diffused in the soil were too strong for the young 
plant. It must also be noticed, however, that in this plot the 
condition of tilth was perhaps hardly as good as on the rest of 
the field, and being close to a gate the ground was probably 
more consolidated, owing to its having during previous years 
been more trampled during dung carting, &c., than other parts 
of the field. Salt with nitrate (plot M) gave a less yield than 
nitrate without salt. 
To summarise, the experiments show : — 
1. That on this particular soil the supplementary use of 
superphosphate only, about 12 tons of dung per acre being 
used, gave no increase in the mangold crop. 
2. That soluble nitrogenous manures in conjunction with 
superphosphate largely increased the yield. 
3. That nitrogen in the form of nitrate of soda was more 
efficacious than sulphate of ammonia, the season being a dry one. 
4. That at least 2 cwt. nitrate of soda could be advan- 
tageously used for mangolds, even when 12 tons of dung per 
acre were applied. 
5. That it is desirable to apply nitrate of soda as a top-dressing 
after the plant is singled out, and not to apply it at seed time. 
6. That, if sulphate of ammonia is used, it should be sown 
with the seed, and not applied as a top-dressing. 
It should, however, be particularly noticed that these con- 
clusions are drawn from but one set of experiments, in an 
exceptionally dry season. In an ordinary season sulphate of 
ammonia sown with the seed might have acted quite as well as 
nitrate of soda. In such a case the relative market prices of 
the two articles would rule the farmer, it being remembered 
that f cwt. of sulphate has the same nitrogenous strength as 
1 cwt. nitrate. But as nitrate seems to give better results than 
sulphate in a dry season, and as it is not possible to foretell the 
quantity or distribution of a season's rainfall, these experiments 
seem to teach that it is safer, when the prices at all correspond. 
