| Plot. | Descriptions of manures and quantities applied per acre. | SdC | SfC | TC | ISdC | ISfC | TIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | No manure | 75 | 12 | 87 | .. | .. | .. |
| 2. | 20 loads barn-yard manure | 82½ | 10 | 92½ | 5½ | .. | 5½ |
| 3. | 150 lbs. sulphate of ammonia | 85 | 30 | 115 | 10 | 18 | 28 |
| 4. | 300 lbs. superphosphate of lime | 88 | 10 | 98 | 11 | .. | 11 |
| 5. | 400 lbs. Peruvian guano | 90 | 30 | 120 | 15 | 18 | 33 |
| 6. | 400 lbs. of “Cancerine,” or fish manure | 85 | 20 | 105 | 10 | 8 | 18 |
“As before stated, the land was of a stronger nature than that on which the first set of experiments was made, and it was evidently in better condition, as the plot having no manure produced 20 bushels of ears of corn per acre more than the plot without manure in the other field.
“On plot 4, 300 lbs. of superphosphate of lime gives a total increase of 11 bushels of ears of corn per acre over the unmanured plot, agreeing exactly with the increase obtained from the same quantity of the same manure on plot 5, in the first set of experiments.
“Plot 3, dressed with 150 lbs. of sulphate of ammonia per acre, gives a total increase of 28 bushels of ears of corn per acre, over the unmanured plot; and an increase of 22½ bushels of ears per acre over plot 2, which received 20 loads of good, well-rotted barnyard-dung per acre.
“Plot 5, with 400 lbs. of Peruvian guano per acre gives the best crop of this series viz: an increase of 33 bushels of corn per acre over the unmanured plot, and 27½ over the plot manured with 20 loads of barnyard-dung. The 400 lbs. of ‘Cancerine’—an artificial manure made in New Jersey from fish—gives a total increase of 18 bushels of ears per acre over the unmanured plot, and 12½ bushels more than that manured with barn-yard dung, though 5 bushels of ears of sound corn and 10 bushels of ‘nubbins’ per acre less than the same quantity of Peruvian guano.”
MANURES FOR TURNIPS.
To raise a large crop of turnips, especially of ruta-bagas, there is nothing better than a liberal application of rich, well-rotted farm-yard-manure, and 250 to 300 lbs. of good superphosphate of lime per acre, drilled in with the seed.
I have seen capital crops of common turnips grown with no other manure except 300 lbs. of superphosphate per acre, drilled with the seed. Superphosphate has a wonderful effect on the development of the roots of the turnip. And this is the secret of its great value for this crop. It increases the growth of the young plant, developing the formation of the roots, and when the turnip once gets full possession of the soil, it appropriates all the plant-food it can find. A turnip-crop grown with superphosphate, can get from the soil much more nitrogen than a crop of wheat. The turnip-crop, when supplied with superphosphate, is a good “scavenger.” It will gather up and organize into good food the refuse plant-food left in the soil. It is to the surface soil, what clover is to the subsoil. To the market gardener, or to a farmer who manures heavily common turnips drilled in with superphosphate will prove a valuable crop. On such land no other manure will be needed. I cannot too earnestly recommend the use of superphosphate as a manure for turnips.
For Swede turnips or ruta-bagas, it will usually be necessary, in order to secure a maximum crop, to use a manure which, in addition to superphosphate, contains available nitrogen. A good dressing of rich, well-rotted manure, spread on the land, and plowed under, and then 300 lbs. of superphosphate drilled in with the seed, would be likely to give a good crop.
In the absence of manure, there is probably nothing better for the ruta-bagas than 300 lbs. of so-called “rectified” Peruvian guano, that is, guano treated with sulphuric acid, to render the phosphates soluble. Such a guano is guaranteed to contain 10 per cent of ammonia, and 10 per cent of soluble phosphoric acid, and would be a good dressing for Swede turnips.