72 
Experiments upon Sioedes. 
Table showing Produce in Swedes, topped and tailed and cleaned, of each 
Experimental Plot and per Acre. 
I'lot. 1 llamivo. 
Per 
5(5 Acre. 
Pit Acre. 
20 tons of farmyard-manure per acre . . 
cwts. 
qrs 
lbs. 
tons. 
cwts. 
qrs. 
lbs. 
1 
10 
1 
21 
10 
8 
3 
0 
2 
20 tons of farmyard-manure and 2 cwts.l 
10 
1 
10 
2 
of superphosphate / 
2 
8 
9 
3 
11 
1 
12 
11 
7 
0 
10 
4 
1 cwt. of superphosphate 
9 
1 
0 
9 
5 
0 
0 
5 
11 
0 
13 
11 
2 
1 
8 
6 
10 
3 
16 
10 
17 
3 
12 
7 
2 cwts. of superphosphate and 1 cwt. of) 
12 
0 
8 
12 
1 
1 
20 
8 
3 cwts. of Peruvian guano 
i o 
2 
9 
13 
11 
2 
\i 
9 
1 cwt. of sulphate of ammonia 
13 
2 
10 
13 
11 
3 
4 
lU 
1 1 
1 
13 
11 
7 
1 
8 
1 A 
15 
10 
12 
2 
20 
12 
2 cwts. of sulphate of ammonia 
10 
1 
22 
10 
8 
3 
20 
13 
3 cwts. of dissolved bones 
11 
0 
0 
11 
0 
0 
0 
14 
1 cwt. of nitrate of soda 
12 
3 
20 
12 
IS 
2 
8 
15 
2 cwts. of superphosphate and 1 cwt. of salt 
12 
1 
13 
12 
7 
1 
8 
16 
11 
3 
24 
11 
19 
1 
4 
17 
3 cwts. of superphosphate 
10 
2 
18 
10 
13 
0 
24 
18 
3 cwts. of superphosphate and 1 cwt. ofl 
10 
3 
17 
10 
18 
0 
4 
19 
3 cwts. of sulphate of potash .. .. .. 
9 
3 
26 
9 
19 
2 
16 
20 
3 cwts. of superphosphate and 1 cwt. of"l 
10 
0 
0 
10 
0 
0 
0 
nitrate of soda / 
I give this table in order to show how strangely sometimes 
experiments turn out, and how necessary it is to observe care- 
fully all circumstances which may affect the. final produce. If no 
notice had been taken of the cause which operated so injuriously 
on the experimental roots, the strangest deductions might have 
been arrived at. Thus, it might appear that 1 cwt. of sul- 
phate of ammonia per acre was the best turnip-manure ; that 
1 cwt. of superphosphate per acre, on the other hand, was inju- 
rious to swedes, inasmuch as in the preceding experiments it 
diminished the produce ; that 3 cwts. of gypsum per acre were as 
good as 3 cwts. of bone-dust for turnips, and that both are equal 
in fertilizing power to 20 tons of farmyard-manure. These and 
other absurd conclusions might all be derived from experiments 
in which the produce has been accurately weighed. Similar 
contradictions and anomalies strike the attention of the experi- 
enced and critical reader of the many reports of like experiments 
printed in our newspapers. In many instances we cannot but 
admit that these have been conducted in a conscientious and 
careful manner ; yet the results are such, that if due allowance 
be not made for circumstances which may easily be overlooked, 
conclusions may readily be drawn fnom them which may mislead 
the inexperienced or confirm the particular fancy of the preju- 
