62 Absorption of Phosphate of Lime ; and 
unhealthy growth and presence of disease at a later stage are 
attributable. 
The additional potash which is indispensable for roots grown 
on sandy soils is most economically supplied in good rotten dung 
or in liquid manure ; but it is also furnished to a considerable 
extent by Peruvian guano, wood-ashes, and burnt clay. To these 
resources we must, therefore, look if we wish to avoid the dis- 
appointment of losing our root-crops. 
VV hen turnips are intended to be grown on light land, we 
should, in the first place, ascertain if it wants liming or not, and 
treat it accordingly. In the next place, it should receive a fair 
dressing of good rotten dung, or, if this cannot be had in suffi- 
cient quantity, half a dressing of dung should be given, and 
afterwards 2 or 3 cwts. of Peruvian and 2 or 3 cwts. of super- 
phosphate should be supplied when the seed is drilled in. Such 
an addition of superphosphate to farmyard manure or guano has 
a most beneficial effect. 
Perhaps the best manure for growing roots on light land is 
a mixture of bone-dust and rotten dung. On several farms in 
Norfolk this mixture is used, in preference to all other manures, 
with most signal benefit. 
The best way to make this mixture is to cart into a corner of 
the field the yard-manure about three months before turnip- 
sowing begins. At the same time the bone-dust — calculating G 
to 8 bushels per acre — is carted next to the place where the 
manure is to be put up in a heap. In making the heap, first a 
thick layer of dung is placed upon the ground ; a thin sprinkling 
of bone-dust is put upon it, then a layer of dung ; again a 
sprinkling of bone-dust ; and so on, until all the bone-dust and 
dung are placed in alternate layers in a heap. About a month 
before sowing the turnips the heap should be turned over. Pro- 
ceeding in this way, we shall find that the fermented dung dis- 
integrates and partially dissolves the bone-dust to such an extent 
that bv the time the manure is rcadv to be distributed over the 
turnip-field nearly the whole of the bone-dust will have become 
decomposed and uniformly amalgamated with the dung. This 
excellent plan appears to me by far the most economical mode 
of dissolving and applving bone-dust on light land, which, as 
has been stated, should, if possible, be manured with at least 
half a dressing of ordinarv yard-manure, in order that the 
deficiency of potash and organic matter in the soil may be 
supplied. 
In conclusion, the principal points of interest which have been 
discussed at some length in the preceding pages may be con- 
densed into the following Summary. 
