430 Field Experiments on Cabbages at Rusper, Horsham. 
6. That sulphate of ammonia gave but poor results as com- 
pared with equivalent dressings of nitrate of soda, a fact 
probably in some degree due to continued dry weather. The 
superiority of the nitrate of soda plots was seen throughout the 
season in the luxuriance, dark colour, and generally vigorous 
appearance of the cabbages, 
7. That fish guano only succeeded in producing about two tons 
of increase per acre. This seems to show that fish manure is- 
not well adapted for such a close heavy clay soil ; the fish, I 
should say, having scarcely become decomposed in time to benefit 
the plants, the oil in it further tending to retard the decom- 
position. Probably on a more open soil, where it would more 
readily become intimately mixed with the earth, or in a wetter 
season, the results might have been better. 
It is noteworthy that while salt was clearly necessary to bring 
out the full action of phosphates and nitrates, yet Peruvian 
guano, without salt, produced excellent results. It is highly 
probable, however, that the addition of 2 to 3 cwt. of salt per 
acre to the guano would still further have increased the yield. 
The chief lesson to be learnt from these experiments is the high 
value of salt as a dressing for cabbages when a sufficiency of 
other suitable manurial ingredients is present. 
From the results obtained, growers of cabbages might be recom- 
mended to use as an artificial dressing at seed time 4 cwt. of 
superphosphate per acre, if the soil is fairly calcareous, or, if 
not, to use 3 cwt. of superphosphate mixed with 1 cwt. of 
bone-meal, ground coprolite, or other finely -ground phosphate ; 
top-dressing, after singling out, with 2 cwt. nitrate of soda 
per acre, mixed with 3 cwt. of salt. 
As an alternative I would suggest a dressing of 2^ cwt. per 
acre of Peruvian guano (8 to 9 per cent, of ammonia at seed 
time) mixed with 2 cwt. of salt, or the use of a like quantity of 
" low-ammoniacal " Peruvian guano, afterwards top-dressing 
with 1 cwt. nitrate of soda and 3 cwt. of salt. 
The rainfall for the year, as registered by Mr. Parbury's 
rain-gauge on the farm, was as follows : — 
1886. Inches. 
January 3 • 53 
February 0 ' 80 
March 2-01 
April 1 • 76 
May 4-00 
June -93 
1886. Inches. 
July 2-98 
August 1-87 
September 2 '35 
October 3-12 
November 3*65 
December 5 • 78 
Total for the year, 32 • 78 inches. 
