510 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 21, 1894. 
On the first Monday in June Sir Henry Gilbert gave proof 
at Rothamsted to Colonel North and a large party of gentlemen 
interested in the nitrate trade, that nitrate of soda stands 
supreme among manures for all crops excepting Potatoes. For 
fifty years have Sir Henry Gilbert and Sir John Bennet Lawes 
conducted manorial trials there, and their deductions are 
accepted as being entirely reliable and beyond question. Here 
are a few of those which Sir Henry explained. Turnips fed by 
mineral manures only gave a crop of about 8 tons per acre. 
By the addition of nitrate of soda to the minerals the yield per 
acre was raised to from 20 to 25 tons, about 60 per cent, of the 
nitrogen being utilised by the Turnip crop. On the Mangold 
and Turnip plots in which the fifty-second consecutive crops are 
now growing, Turnips having a full dressing of minerals and 
sulphate of ammonia, have given an average crop slightly under 
15 tons for the last seventeen years; and the plots having their 
nitrogen, as nitrate of soda, have during the same period had an 
average yield of 2 tons 13 cwts. more. The feeding value is also 
distinctly in favour of the nitrate of soda, 1 lb. of it added to 
the minerals producing in Mangolds 28 8 lbs. of sugar, as com¬ 
pared with 19‘3 lbs. of sugar obtained by the use of 1 lb. of 
sulphate of ammonia in similar combination. Particular 
attention was called to the necessity for the exercise of caution 
in the use of Mangolds so fed. The roots are so surcharged 
with saline matter that they ripen slowly, and if used early and 
freely in winter they often induce scour, which is sometimes so 
excessive and persistent as to prove fatal. Though the reason 
for caution in the use of Mangolds may not be generally under¬ 
stood, the necessity for it certainly is, so that there is little if 
any risk of harm from premature use. 
Very valuable lessons, too, were afforded by the grass plots 
where the experiments have been in progress for about forty 
years. The most useful are that not more than cwt. per acre 
should be used, and even this amount may often be reduced 
to 1 cwt. with advantage. Other lessons are that nitrate used 
alone causes a thick growth with very little seed development. 
That such growth has little Clover in it, and that an addition of 
potash brings Clover. That a full dressing of nitrate, with a 
proper mixture of minerals and potash gives a very heavy and 
early growth. That superphosphate of lime alone does very 
little good, and is not recommended. 
It may be thought that there is nothing particularly new 
about these hints, nor is there. But they are received with the 
attention and respect which they so clearly merit, and in the 
application of their teaching we say do n t place undue stress 
upon the use of any one manure for pasture. For example, we 
strongly question the wisdom of heavy dressing of bones or 
basic slag. It is certain that though by such means we may 
store the soil with phosphates, yet these are not a complete 
plant food, and we never can obtain a full crop of grass, cereals 
or roots, without first storing in the soil the indispensable 
elements of nitrogen and potash in combination with phos¬ 
phates. It is undoubtedly true that we may usefully apply 
phosphates as a foundation in the autumn; but we fail to see the 
value of any such application alone at that season of the year. 
Under the light of experience we are bound to insist upon the 
annual use of complete plant food on pasture about the end of 
February, the manures then to consist per acre of 1 cwt. nitrate 
of soda, 1^ cwt. mineral superphosphate, J cwt. muriate of 
potash, cwt. steamed bone flour. For this very moderate 
dressing to be really effective the manures must be pure. For 
very poor or neglected pasture we would have the same amount 
of superphosphate with li cwt. nitrate, ^ cwt. bone flour, and 
^ cwt. muriate of potash the first season, using the lesser 
quantities subsequently. Timely and persistent use of pure 
manures is the most important point of all, and the most 
difficult. “ What! am I to go on using this manure every 
year ? ” was the exclamation we heard this spring. Certainly, 
we replied, and you will be well repaid for doing so ; in nothing 
is perseverance better rewarded than in the judicious use of 
such manures. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
As lambs are weaned withdraw from the flock all ewes that are 
over-aged or unfit for breeding again. Be particular in this matter,, 
and never retain a doubtful animal in the ewe flock. To have strong 
healthy lambs we must have sound ewes in perfect health without 
ailments of any sort. This is one of the reasons why we so persistentty 
insist upon keeping down foot rot, and call attention to the fact that 
kneelers in any flock are a sure sign of negligence on the part of the 
shepherd. The foot or feet affected by this troublesome disease are so 
sore and tender that the sheep kneel while grazing to obtain some relief 
in their agony. Not only do we insist upon prompt attention, but 
tender treatment in every case. To this end see that the operator has 
a suitable knife with a small and very sharp blade. The ordinary 
shepherd’s knife with its long straight blade is more suitable for killing 
a sheep than for paring its hoofs. That, combined with clumsiness and 
brutality, is why we so often see the wounds on the feet bleeding under 
treatment. The best plan is to place all lame sheep in a small paddock 
or other suitable enclosure near the homestead, so as to have them under 
frequent observation and for daily treatment. Speedy recovery is then 
as certain as desirable. Apart from the sufferings of the sheep, they 
never can thrive with foot rot. 
Soon after, and never before the weaning, the whole of the sheep and 
lambs are dipped in Cooper’s solution, to destroy ticks and other para¬ 
sites, and for a while to keep off fly attacks. They are then free for the 
summer months from the irritation caused by insects in the wool. The 
reason for not dipping before the weaning is the risk of the lambs being 
poisoned by the dip dressing on the ewes’ udders. Though the weather 
has been dull and damp there has been some trouble from flies, especially 
on sheep suffering from scour. Close daily inspection is the only safe 
plan. The sheep^ need not be handled, a quiet walk among the flock 
enabling one to see if there are any cases requiring attention. The 
irritation from fly maggots causes the sheep to be restless, not perhaps 
so much as to run about, but certainly by frequent twitching and 
rubbing. A prompt use of Cuff’s dressing clears out all the maggots and 
at once affords relief. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Poor Pasture (t?. 7 ).—Our farm article this week, and the answer 
to “ J. C, B.” contains the information you require. The manures 
may be used on any kind of soil with satisfactory results. Note our 
recommendation of an annual dressing, which invariably proves so 
profitable that the expense is true economy and a sound investment. 
Also see that you obtain pure manures, then by timely use success is as 
certain as is failure if you use impure or adulterated manure. 
Cbemlcal Manures (J. C. B .).— See our farm article this week 
for quantities and the time to apply them. For your poor sandy loam 
use the larger quantity next season, and the lesser quantity subsequently 
year by year. Remember that in order to have rich pasture soil fertility 
must be fully sustained. This is only to be done well by regular annual 
dressings of manure. With this see also that you have pure manures 
from a reliable source, and that they are applied quite by the last week 
in February, then you are certain to have abundant rich nutritious 
herbage, and to be well repaid for your outlay upon the manures. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Oamdbis Squarb, London. 
Lat.51°32'40" K.: Long. 0° 8'0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet 
Date, 
9 A.M. 
IN THB Day. 
Bain. 
1894. 
June. 
j Barometer 
1 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 .. 
10 
29-902 
57 6 
54-2 
w.s.w. 
54-3 
63-6 
51-9 
83-0 
47-2 
0-090 
Monday .. 
11 
29-755 
54-8 
48-4 
w. 
53-9 
62-3 
45-9 
lU-9 
40-8 
0-143 
Tuesday .. 
12 
29-897 
54-3 
50-2 
N. 
53-0 
64-1 
43-7 
103-0 
38-8 
0-051 
W ednesday 
13 
29-958 
55-6 
55-2 
N. 
53 6 
59-7 
47-8 
89-7 
42-2 
— 
Thursday.. 
14 
30-147 
59-3 
54-8 
N. 
53-2 
73-1 
45-1 
116-6 
36-6 
— 
Friday .. 
15 
30-131 
62-7 
57-1 
W. 
55-5 
72-0 
51-0 
113 8 
48-0 
0-165 
Saturday .. 
16 
30-143 
61-9 
64-2 
N, 
56-8 
70-8 
62-1 
119-7 
48-2 
— 
29-991 
58-0 
53-4 
54-4 
66-5 
48-2 
105-8 
43-1 
0447 
REMARKS. 
10th.—Overcast almost throughout, with occasional spots of rain and heavy rain from' 
4.30 P.M. to 6 p.M. 
11th.—Windy, with allernate sunshine, cloud, and showers, the latter preponderating itt 
the atternoon. 
12th.—Occasional sunshine, but generally overcast, and frequently dark and threatening; 
slignt showers in evening. 
13th.—Showers in the small hours; gleams of sun early; overcast almost throughout 
the day. 
14th.—Sunny almost throughout. 
15th.—Fine and pleasant, but not much bright sunshine. Cloudy evening and rain 
from 10.45 p.M, to midnight. 
16th.—Bright sunshine aimost throughout. Solar halo at 5 p.M. 
Kot so damp as the previous week, but like several previous weeks, cooler and 
damper than usual. Nearly 10° colder than the corresponding week of list year, and. 
the maximum in shade only 73‘1°, against 88'8°, or nearly 16'^ less.—G. J. SvMONS. 
