TULIP-ROOT. 
69 
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been on the look-out, this year’s spots would have been scarcely 
noticed, or, if noticed, ascribed to rabbits.” 
At present very little information has been sent in (excepting one 
note in the preceding observation) as to effect of farm manure in 
pushing the plant past attack, but the following observations of 
Mr. Elder, of The Holmes, Uphall, Linlithgowshire, point to the 
disease being worst on gravelly elevations, and also mention the good 
effects of sulphate of potash, and the non-effect of nitrate of soda in 
the case of a field experimented on and described in the observations 
as field “ No. 2.” 
The experiments were made in 1886, and alluded to at p. 40 of my 
Report for that year, and on the 30th of March, 1887, I was favoured 
by Mr. John Elder with a more detailed account of his experiment. 
Mr. Elder remarked, “ My farm is mostly free alluvial soil, with 
some gentle knolls of sand or gravel. These knolls were worst 
affected with Tulip-root, the more retentive soil immediately sur¬ 
rounding them being entirely free and a very heavy crop. A portion 
of one field which was heavy loamy soil, was more or less affected, but 
in this case the drainage was bad, and the land soured. 
“ What I have written refers to Oat crop after Potatoes and Turnips, 
manured with horse and cow dung, and receiving no special treatment.” 
So far the notes show occurrence of the disease where there was 
some special state of ground which would influence the growth of the 
plant, as the soured land or the raised sandy knolls ; the following 
observations refer to action of the chemical dressings. Mr. Elder 
continued— 
“ Other two fields were Oats after Hay, after Barley, after Turnips, 
Beans, and Potatoes. No. 1 received when sown (in addition to an 
allowance of bones), about 28 lbs. of sulphate of potash, and the same 
of sulphate of ammonia. A good sound crop was the result, no Tulip- 
root being observable except on a gravelly knoll , and even then to a 
small extent.” 
The second of the fields was reported at length as follows:— 
“ No. 2 received superphosphate and sulphate of ammonia, but no 
sulphate of potash when sown, except the head-rigs, which received at 
the rate of three-quarter cwt. per acre in addition to superphosphate and 
ammonia, when I sowed Vetches and Oats in equal proportions. The 
effect of the potash was most extraordinary, and where I ran short 
before coming to the end of the field there the effect ceased, what 
received the potash grew on most luxuriantly, while the whole of the 
field (with that exception) threatened to be a complete failure. 
“ I then gave 1 cwt. of nitrate of soda per acre (to field No. 2), 
.... but this, after a fortnight of growing weather, was making no 
improvement. I then procured sulphate of potash and applied half 
