Local Agricultural Societies. 
267 
acre having given about the same result as 2 cwt. of nitrate of 
soda, viz. 2 tons per acre over the dung produce ; 4 cwt. of guano 
per acre doing still more. 
Looking at the results from an economical point of view, the 
best results were given by plots P and Q where no dung was 
applied, P (3 cwt. superphosphate, 4 cwt. nitrate of soda) yielding 
an increase of over 7 tons per acre, at a cost of 7s. 3cl. per ton of 
increase, and Q (6 cwt. guano, 4 cwt. nitrate of soda) 9 tons per 
acre increase, at a cost of 9s. 7d. per ton. Omitting the cost 
of dung, the guano plots H (4 cwt. guano, 2 cvft. nitrate of 
soda), Gr (4 cwt. guano), and B (2 cwt. guano) gave the best 
returns. 
Mr. Dj-er made analyses of roots taken from the different 
plots, and these showed the average percentage of dry matter to 
be about 14^, which is a high figure, 12 per cent, being in any 
ordinary season about the average. There were, therefore, much 
more dry matter and less water in the roots than is usual, the 
roots being thus much richer. 
The total rainfall from January to the end of October was 
only 12"03 inches, and the soil was very parched. The principal 
conclusions drawn are these : — 
1. That, owing probatly to the extreme dryness of the season, dung alone 
produced a comparatively small effect at an extravagantly high cost. 
2. That the addition of artificials to-ibe dung increased the yield con- 
siderably at a relatively diminished cost. 
3. That the most efficacious artificials as additions to dung, both as 
regards increased yield and cost of increased produce, were guano and nitrate 
of soda used together. 
4. That artificials alone proved much more economical than dung, or any 
mixture of duug and artificials. 
5. That nitrate of soda, whether with or without dung, did not produce 
its maximum effect without the addition of phosphatic manure, such as guano 
or superphosphate. 
6. That basic cinder, although it increased the crop, did not act as well 
as superphosphate. 
7. That the roots, almost throughout the field, contained much more dry 
or solid matter, and therefore less water, than roots grown in an ordinary 
season. 
In consequence of the dryness, which doubtless prevented the 
manures from exercising anything like their full benefit, as seen 
in the small produce, the Essex Committee considered it desirable 
to repeat these experiments another year. The Experimental 
Committee of the Royal Agricultural Society think this a very 
wise course to adopt, and they further recommend that the tops 
be weighed as well as the bulbs. 
