The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-10-28


ness In the crop, when they are brought
into close proximity with the seed.
5. Guano and nitrate of soda top
dressed on, either at the time Of sowing
or later, by which means they are moi
placed in contact with the seed, In.
crease the crop, but not to an extent
which warrants us in recommending
them in the district.
6. That dissolved guano was less In.
furious in its effect upon the seed than
ordinary Peruvian guano.
Z. That the benefit from the applica.
ton sometin<ns is represented by ten to
twelve tons per acre over the unman.
ured plats, and that in other cases the
unmanured plats are fully equal to
those dressed, In which cases there Is Q
heavy pecuniary loss from their appli'
cation.
s. That land in our neighborhood is
satisfied with moderate dressings. In
other words, II appears soon to be sat.
urated, so to speak, with fertilizinl
matter, and no increase In the quantity
ofthe fertilizer applied is followed with
an adequate result.
o. About three cwt. of superphos.
phate has given the best economic re-
suit during several years. experiments,
extending over hundreds of plats.
In making few remarks upon these
general results 1 must observe that
their value is local for If farms differ
one from another in their responsive
power in the same locality, how much
more will they differ from farms under
different conditions of soil and climate?
Their value is also general, for they in
dictate the value of experiments in one
locality, and therefore in all localities.
No more must we consult the results of
distant experimenters with view to
modifying our own particular practice,
but we must become experimenters
ourselves.
Secondly, these experiments indicate
that in many cases the money expend-
ed in artificial nanures Is wasted, while
In other cases 1t is we'll spent. Does it
not behoove us to know how far this
fact affects each of us?
1 have reason to believe that the in.
jury done by guano and nitrate of soda
to the seed is restricted to the drier and
warmer parts of England for In four
years experience in Northumberland
l never heard or found that guano ex-
erted any injurious effect. l first heard
of it upon the dry void district of York
shire East Riding. Do farmers know
with any certainty in this district what
mixture of manures or what particular
fertilizer will give them the greatest
weight of roots at the least cost per ton?
We find superphosphste is the best for
our purpose, but there are localities in
which dissolved guauo, nitrate Of soda,
and other fertilizers, might be found to
be truly economic addition. Lastly,
as to quantity, There is every reason
to suppose that land varies very consid-
erably in what have called its respon-
sive pewer. In some districts half a
ton of concentrated manures, and in
the nsighborhood Of Long Sutton, in
Lincolnshire, l found that a ton an
acre was applied to mangel. On the
Coiswolds three cwt. appears to be
about the maximum which swedes will
make profitable use OF.
Sufficient attention is not given to
ihs methods Of applying artificial man.
urss. In Shropshire they distribute
artific.als through the soils previous to
sowing, and then SOW the seed alone
with the manure. Take the following
extract from Mr.. Wheatley's report
upon the first prize farm in the coun-
ties of Shropshire and Staffordshire
in 1871: Artificial manures are appli-
ed by hand on the surface, namely
ewt. of pulverized bone (button dust),1
cwt. of guano, and cwt. OF superphos-
plate Griffin g. Morris), at cost of CO
los. per acre. The land is then scarified
narrowed, and rolled, by which opera
ton the artificial manures are thor
oughly incorporated with the soil, and
the last week in May, If the season adj
mits, the turnips are drilled on the fiat
at distance between the rows of nine
teen inches" Here Is the practice
upon the best managed farm entered
for competition for the Royal Agricul-
tural Society's prize. The practice GER
tainly will strike many of us as novel,
but the question isis 1t the best Ian?
If we drill all our superphosphate with
the seed you certainly start them, and
we'll started is half the battle; but 1t is
to be feared that this system deposits
the manure too much In one place. On
the other hand, to stock the entire sta-
pie of the soil with manurial substances
as done by Mr.. Forester. supplies the
rootlets wheresoever they may chance
to wander. Might not middle course
give better results still-that Is, dlstrib.
uting half the artificial dressing
through tho soil, and drilling the re.
mainder with the seed? These ques-
tons appear to be exceedingly interest
ing, and / hope In conjunction with
our chamber. to institute some expert
ments with regard to them.-[Country
Gent.
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