446 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 9, 1892. 
estimation for soil enrichment. It will be far better when be has 
gained sufficient scientific knowledge to use other manure with 
confidence and precision. No doubt there are many intelligent 
men with whom the systematic use of chemical manures has been 
in full force for some time ; their influence is felt, their example 
tells. But we want something more influential at work, and 
therefore regard the action of County Councils in the establish¬ 
ment of agricultural stations and colleges as a decided step 
onwards. When each county has its experimental stations, as 
a head and centre where practice with science is fully exem¬ 
plified, then, and not till then, may we hope for systematic 
improvement. 
As was shown in a recent article, farmers on the continent 
have, under the fostering influence of Government supervision, 
acquired familiarity with the value and composition of manures. 
With us there has been a certain degree of familiarity with 
guano, superphosphates, crushed bones, and nitrate of soda, but 
we have been slow to learn anything about guano analysis, and how 
to prepare a cheap and efficient substitute for it ; let us see how 
entirely this is worth while. Taking present values as our basis, 
we have superphosphate of about 27 per cent, at £3 per ton, or 
23. 3d, per unit, nitrate of soda yielding nitrogen equal to about 
19 per cent, of ammonia at £9 per ton, or 9s. 6d. per unit, and 
sulphate of ammonia of about 25 per cent, of ammonia at £10 lOs. 
per ton, or 9s. per unit. We have also guano containing 31 per 
cent, of phosphates and 14 per cent, of ammonia at £14 per ton. 
If we allow the guano phosphates to be equal in value to those in 
superphosphates, and its ammonia to be equal in value to that of 
nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia, we find the 31 per cent, of 
phosphate are worth 31 times 2s, 3d, or £3 9s, 9d., whilst the 
14 per cent, of ammonia at 9s. 6d. per unit is worth £6 133., 
so that the real value of guano is only £10 2s. 9d. per ton, and 
it is quite clear that it is much cheaper to buy superphosphate 
and nitrate of soda to mix our own guano, and so effect a 
saving of some £2 per ton, while we are assured of having a pure 
manure. 
To go a little farther upon the same basis, under the guidance 
of one of our best chemists, we take dissolved bone, which will 
contain say 37 per cent, of bone phosphate and 3 per cent, of 
ammonia, and find thirty-seven times 2s, 3d. is £4 3s. 3d., and 
for the ammonia three times 9s. fid. is £1 8s. fid., or a total 
value of £5 11s. 9d. per ton, which shows the price we ought to 
give for pure dissolved bone. Applied to rape cake containing 
fi per cent, of ammonia and 4 per cent, of phosphates of lime 
and potash, we have fi times 93. fid., or £2 17s., plus 4 of phos¬ 
phate at 2s. 31, or 93. ; and potash worth .33. fid. if required, or 
a total value of £3 9s. fid. per ton, which shows that present 
market prices for rape cake are above value, and it, like guano, 
ean only be purchased at a loss. Buy only under a guaranteed per¬ 
centage, test this by unit value, and so ascertain if you are likely 
to obtain full value for your money. We have made it clear 
that this could not be done at present prices for guano or rape 
cake ; the matter has a much worse aspect when the unit test 
is applied to the compound manures in commerce. Market value 
and intrinsic value prove to be very different under this test, as 
for example in a compound manure quoted at £9 15s. per ton, 
which under the test of 23. 3d, per unit for phosphates, 9s. fid. 
per unit for ammonia, and a proportionate amount for potash, 
proved to have an intrinsic value of only £fi Ss. 9d. per ton, or 
£3 fis. 3d. per ton less than the price asked, and undoubtedly 
obtained for it from purchasers ignorant of test values and how 
to apply them. 
Careful consideration of the foregoing calculations will show 
the importance of buying manures separately under a guarantee, 
and mixing them at the farm ; this is really the only way to 
obtain pure manures at their just value. They are then used to 
advantage during the season of growth if worked into the surface 
soil, or sown upon the surface in showery weather. For permanent 
pasture, for layers of two, three, or several years’ duration, for 
winter or spring corn, for all green crops and roots, for Hops and 
fruit trees or bushes, for all vegetation these prime fertilisers 
are used with profit. They serve better than anything else can 
do to prevent soil exhaustion, to sustain its fertility by, and 
only by, steady persistence in their use for every crop. It is 
our ambition that our readers at any rate shall be well abreast 
of other farmers in the progress and renewed prosperity which 
may reasonably be looked for with the growth of the know¬ 
ledge of these things which is bound to follow the spread of 
technical education among us. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Heat and moisture have combined since our last note to promote 
that free growth which cold dry weather had retarded so long. In 
southern counties grass for-hay is coming on so fast that it will soon 
be bloom, but in the midlands the hay crop is very backward. To all 
we say. Mow as soon as the first growth of grass is in bloom—earlier 
rather than later—if you would derive full benefit from the aftermath. 
Remember the teaching of our article on cattle feeding last week, and 
not only strive for a high milk average, but also to finish as many 
bullocks as possible on grass by next October. Make hay or silage 
according to the weather, preferably hay, but have plenty of silage if the 
weather is at all unsettled. Do not leave the hay crop to spoil as was 
done so generally last year, but mow at once when it is ready. It is 
wise to make due provision of fodder for winter, but in doing it avoid 
the loss of summer grazing. 
Much of the Wheat is a full strong plant though backward, condition 
of soil telling upon the crop as it always does. We have seen very 
much corn of that sickly hue which so clearly denotes poverty of soil, 
resultant either from want of means or ignorance. Such poor practice 
is the bane of farming, it never answers. It is far better to have less 
land and cultivate it thoroughly, than to have a lot of half crops and 
starveling animals. Root crops have been sorely tried by drought; it is 
only those which were sown early over furrows filled with farmyard 
manure that have thriven. The roots becoming established in the moist 
“muck” so early keep the plant growing freely and practically un¬ 
harmed by drought. No doubt a fine crop of roots is a boon, but it is 
a speculative costly crop upon which one does not care to depend very 
much. It is far better to grow more forage—wholesome nutritious food 
as it is—to make more hay and silage, to keep our head of stock in 
winter well within bounds, and so lessen our expenditure and anxiety 
about results at the same time. The matter is worthy of thoughtful 
attention, and there is no better time for this than during the season 
of growth, amidst all the trying changes of weather of our fickle 
climate. 
Sow a field of Maize now, taking especial care to previously enrich 
the soil thoroughly, for it is a greedy crop, well rewarding us for all 
our care, coming into use at a critical time when other green food is 
often scarce. Only beware of the rooks, or they will clear off every 
seed of it before you are up in the morning. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, 
Oamdex Square, London. 
Lat. 51° 32' 40" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
In THE Day. 
Rain. 
1892. 
May and June. 
[ Barometer 
at 32°, and 
1 Sea Level. 
Hygrometer. 
Direc¬ 
tion of 
Wind. 
Temp, 
of soil 
at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
Sun. 
On 
Grass. 
Inchs. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Inchs. 
Sunday ., 
29 
30-026 
64-0 
56-0 
s.s.w. 
57-9 
70-3 
50-8 
116-7 
45-2 
— 
Monday .. 
30 
30-147 
62-9 
56-7 
s. 
57-4 
770 
54-6 
120-0 
48-3 
_ 
Tuesday .. 
31 
29-913 
73-6 
61-2 
N.E. 
58-6 
84-7 
55-1 
130-2 
46 0 
0-031 
Wednesday 
1 
29-881 
60-2 
54-2 
S.W. 
59-6 
71-1 
53-1 
119-9 
49-6 
0-051 
Thursday.. 
2 
29-730 
56-4 
54-7 
S, 
59-3 
66-8 
55-5 
108-2 
49-4 
0-100 
Friday 
3 
29.951 
60-6 
50-9 
S.W. 
58-0 
68-7 
49-9 
121-7 
4S-3 
Saturday .. 
4 
30-100 
57-2 
48-3 
S.W. 
58-1 
66-2 
45-8 
118-4 
38-3 
0-130 
29-964 
62-1 
54-6 
58-4 
72-1 
521 
119-3 
45-7 
0-312 
REMARKS, 
May 29th.—Generally sunny in morning and evening, but frequently cloudy in the 
afternoon, and once or twice spots of rain. 
30th.—Breezy with alternate cloud and sunshine early, bright warm day. 
31st.—Bright sunshine till 3 P.ii., cloudy after, very warm rain from 6 to 7 p.m. 
fine night. 
June 1st.—Generally sunny and fresh, but occasionally cloudy, 
2nd.—Wet till 11.30 A.M., generally bright and sunny after 2 P.M. 
3rd.—Generally sunny and pleasant. 
4th.—Sunny and fresh day, generally cloudy in evening, and rain at night. 
A fine summer week; temperature still above the average.—G. J. SymonS. 
