358 Swedes raised upon barren Land toith artificial Manure. 
hill they trod on their work, and so buried both the manure end 
seed together. This operation completed the process : the only 
subsequent cultivation consisted in the singling by children of the 
swedes as they came up in bunches. 
The issue of this experiment has exceeded iny most sanguine 
expectations. Forty perches of the best part of the crop yielded 
of clean roots after the rate of 23^ tons per acre, whilst 40 perches 
of the poorest gave 19 tons. On comparing the relative quan- 
tities of the heaviest and lightest produce, competent persons have 
estimated the crop at 21 tons per acre of clean roots, the samples 
of which were weighed in dry weather. Some of these when 
topped and tailed weighed 14 lbs., measuring severally 29 and 
30 inches — many hundred of them exceed 10 lbs. in weight. 
One remarkable circumstance presented itself to the observer. 
Between swedes of 8 lbs. and V) lbs. weight would be seen every 
now and then a starveling plant in bulb not bigger than a marble. 
This arose from the carelessness of the children, who occasionally 
dropped the seed at a distance from its appointed food. But the 
accident served to prove beyond all doubt at once the efBciencv 
of the manure and the intrinsic poverty of the ground. 
When I began this experiment the jnen employed on it and 
every eyewitness who passed by smiled incredulously at what 
appeared at the time an act of well-meant folly — but note the 
success can/no longer be denied, and the last refuge of scepticism 
betrays itself in the question so often put to me — " But what was 
the cost ? You may buy gold too dear.'' — Of course this is a 
most important part of the subject, and I rejoice, for tlie sake of 
the labourer begging for work and the nation for food, that I can 
answer the inquiry most satisfactorily. Thus stands the cost per 
acj-e : — 
30 bushels of woodashcs at 6(/. . . 
2 cwt. of Ichaboe g,uaiio at Tf. Gd. . 
59 Ujs. of burnt bones and 22 llis. of sulphuric acid 
30 bushels of sawdust ..... 
Labour account * in hoeing, drill, dropping seed (die 
surface of the land being otherwise initouciied). 
10 lbs. of sulphuric acid poured over ashes . 
Rent hs. ; rates, &c., 2*. .... 
Seed, 5 lbs. per acre, 1*-, .... 
A pair of horses liauling the artilkial manure to 
the summit of the hill .... 
£. 
s. 
d. 
0 
15 
0 
0 
15 
0 
0 
7 
0 
0 
2 
6 
0 
19 
G 
0 
1 
3 
0 
7 
0 
0 
3 
6 
0 
7 
0 
£.3 17 9 
♦ The expense of prcpaiing the ground is certainly part of the cost : 
though it had been pieparcd previously, it had not borne any crop. This 
would ad(i considerably, but most properly, to the expense. For an acre 
pecked u)) at (id. per rod, besides hairowings, &c., 'Ms. per acre would be 
the probable expense.— T. KuiuiiKLEV. 
