316 INFLUENCE OF MANURES ON MUTTON. 




the final month, as compared with last year, was very marked. 
In spite of this falling off in the live-weight increase, the 
majority of the sheep came off the experimental plots in very 
good condition, and fifty were selected for the fat market. 
The rainfall at Cockle Park during the season was:— __ 

Inches. 
Four weeks ending June 16th  - - - - - - 75 
ie sp July 14th - = 2 = z = 378i 
3 August I1th- - - - : - 3°905 
56 5 September 8th - - - - - 2°78 
3 55 October 6th - - = + - 0'975 
Total rainfall for 20 weeks - - - - - 13°300 
As in previous years, an experienced salesman and butcher 
valued the sheep at the end of the season. He drew out 
those which were fat, and from eight of the plots seiected 
representative animals, which he slaughtered and reported on. 
A summary of the results of the experiment for Igo00, and 
also for the three previous seasons, will be found in Tables I. 
and II. 
The main features presented by each plot are noticed in 
the following notes. In all cases, unless otherwise stated, — 
the quantities are given in terms of an acre. 
Plot 1. Reszdue of 51 cwt. decorticated cotton-cake consumed 11 
1897 and 1808. 
The analysis made of the cotton cake showed that 5} cwts. 
contained 42 lbs. of nitrogen, while it may be assumed to | 
have contained 18 lbs. of phosphoric acid and 9g lbs. of potash. 
The effects of the residues have been very marked. In last 
year’s report it was mentioned that the sheep on Plot 1 made 
a live-weight increase of 106 lbs. per acre as compared with 
48 los. on the unmanured plot, while this season the respective 
figures are 80 and 44. 
Taking both the first and the residual value of the cake 
into account, we find that at the end of the fourth season the 
net profit on the plot stands at 38s. gd., or nearly tos. per 
acre per annum. Possibly this result is somewhat helped by 
the fact that Plot 1 is naturally slightly better than Plot 6, 
though the difference in this respect is comparatively insig- 
nificant. 
During the past season the sheep on Plot 1 throve well for 
