Bangor Experiments.
Mr Gilchrist of University College, Bangor, as a result of numerous experiments carried out in different parts of Wales, recommends for rye-grass and clover hay on land in good condition 1 cwt. of nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia per acre, the former being applied about the middle of April, the latter during March. For land in poor condition, the addition of 2 cwt. of superphosphate is recommended—this to be applied some time between December and March. Farmyard manure may be usefully applied to young grass and clover seeds in the autumn, more especially on light soils. For meadow-land which is growing hay every year, Mr Gilchrist further recommends the following 4-course rotation of manuring:—
First year, 15 tons farmyard manure, applied in the autumn.
Second year, 1 cwt. nitrate of soda.
Third year, 4 cwt. basic slag or 3 cwt. superphosphate and 1 cwt. nitrate of soda.
Fourth year, 1 cwt. nitrate of soda.
Norfolk Experiments.
Mr Cooke, from his Norfolk experiments, recommends the following manures for rotation seeds:—
One to 1-1/2 cwt. nitrate of soda as a top-dressing in early spring. Where the clover plant is a good one, and it is particularly desired to cultivate it, he recommends as a dressing 1 cwt. of muriate of potash per acre, to be applied immediately after the clover is sown. The practice of dressing growing seeds in their first winter has, so far as the experiments in Norfolk go, less to recommend it than the earlier dressing.
Manuring of Permanent Pastures.