Local AijricuJfin'al Socieiies). 
289 
mangolds, o bushels of oats, and 2 cwfcs. of straw, whilst arti- 
ficials with dung, but without nitrate of soda (plots J, B, G), 
gave an increase of 1 ton 11 cwts. of mangolds over the merely 
dunged plot, but no increase in oats. Artificials, including 
2 cwts. of nitrate of soda in addition to dung (plots D, C, E, H), 
increased the produce by 3 tons 14 cwts. of mangolds, 5 bushels 
of oats, and 2 cwts. of straw over the dunged produce ; and arti- 
ficials with 4 cwts. of nitrate of soda under similar circumstances 
(plots M, L, K, I) increased it by 3 tons 19 cwts. of mangolds, 
14| bushels of oats, and 2 cwts. of straw. 
Where no dung was used, but artificials only, together with 
4 cwts. of nitrate of soda (plots R, N, P, Q), the increase over 
the unmanured plots was 5^ tons of mangolds and 10 bushels 
of oats. Reckoning mangolds at 10s. a ton, oats at 2s. a bushel, 
and straw at 21. a ton, whilst charging the dung with a cost of 
5s. per ton, the results, looked at from a monetary point of view, 
showed that in the two years there had been no adequate return 
for the heavy outlay on the dung, but that artificial manures 
had given much better results. Thus 4 cwts. nitrate of soda, 
costing 21. 3s., gave an increase valued at 21. IGs. Gd.; 3 cwts. 
superphosphate, and 4 cwts. nitrate, costing 21. lis. del., gave 
an increase valued at 3/. 19s. ; while G cwts. guano and 4 cwts. 
nitrate, costing 4/. 6s. (Sd., gave an increase valued at 61. 3s. Qd. 
The most costly artificial dressing, where no dung was used, 
was, therefore, the most economical. 
Speaking generally, last year's conclusion was quite borne 
out, that the best mangold crop was followed by the best one of 
oats ; also that nitrate of soda told very much the second year, 
thouffh it is uncertain whether this was due to its not havingf 
been entirely washed out during the dry season of 1887, or to 
the amount of plant food left by the rootlets of the more abun- 
dant mangold crops, and the tops (which were afterwards 
ploughed in). In any case, the influence of the nitrate of soda 
was not gone, and the fertility of the soil not diminished, but 
rather the reverse. The best result was obtained by the most 
costly dressing, viz., 6 cwts. of guano and 4 cwts. of nitrate of 
soda, without dung. 
B. — Exjperiments on Mangolds. 
This experiment was conducted on a fresh field. Though 
the rainfall throughout the year was a higher one, at one time 
in the early life of the mangolds there was a season of drought, 
and great irregularity in the plant was the consequence. 
Further than this, inequalities in the depth and nature of the 
soil manifested themselves clearly, and practically from these 
VOL. XXV.-- -s s. ' u 
