FARM NOTES FROM ENGLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11907, 7 March 1902, Page 7

FARM NOTES FROM ENGLAND.

[BY OUR ENGLISH AGRICULTURAL CORRESPONDENT.] Hailsuam, January 28. INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS ON TURNIPS. A belated report on some experiments in the manuring of turnips in 1900 has just come in from the West of Scotland Agricultural College. They were conducted by Professor Wright, principal of the college, on 13 farms in different parts of Scotland, and most of the results given, are averages. They were repetitions of trials carried out in 1899 to test certain points. In 1899 the season was very unfavourable to the turnip crop, so that the results needed confirmation. Fortunately 1900 was entirely favourable, and yet nearly all the results confirmed those of the preceding year. The first point upon which it was desired to obtain evidence was as to the best method of applying nitrate of soda in moderate quantity. Tho next was as to the relative advantages of nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia. Similarly it was desired to ascertain which of tho three forms of potash, in equivalent quantities, would benefit the crop most. Lastly, although superphosphate has almost invariably beaten basic slag for turnips, a fresh test was wished for particularly with the object of ascertaining whether an extra quantity of slag would bring it up to the efficacy of superphosphate ; and, again, to try whether these two phosphatic manures in combination would be superior to either alone. Three methods of applying nitrate of soda, lewt per acre, with other manures, were tried — application of the whole when the seed was sown, entirely as a top-dressing after the plants were singled and half at one time and half at the other. The last plan gave a slight advantage, but not enough to make. up for the trouble and expense of a second sowing of manure. Moreover, to sow as little as £cwt on an aero with regularity is almost impossible. Next in results came the plan of sowing nil the nitrate with the seed, and this was the case in both 1900 and 1899. Such a result was to be expected, as tho turnip crop needs nitrate of soda chiefly to make the plants grow quickly in their earliest stage, so that they can get out of the destructive power- of the " fly." Sulphate of ammonia, containing nitrogen equal to that in lewt of nitrate of soda, gave at least as good results when each was applied at the time of sowing the seed. Potash was found necessary for the best yield of turnips on nearly all the farms, and kainit proved superior to sulphate or muriate of potash, all three being applied in quantities containing the same amount of potash. For most crops kainit is beaten by cither of the two other forms of potassic manure; but probably the common salt in it helps the turnip crop by keeping tho surface soil moist. Basic slag, for once, beat supcrphosohato in 1900, the wetness of the autumn all through having given this slowacting manure a quite unusually long period to work in, but the two in combination proved better than either alone. POTATO TRIALS IN CHESHIRE.

On morn than one occasion I have noticed the remarkably comprehensive trial? of different varieties of potatoes carried out on the farm of the Agricultural and Horticultural School, at Holmes' Chapel, Cheshire, for several years past. In 1901 90 varieties of potatoes wore grown side by side, including several new or nearly new strains, 71b of each being planed on the same date in a drill <*'«" wide and 21 yards long. All the land was dressed with farmyard manure at the rate of 16 tons per acre. 3cwt of superphosphate, lewt of sulphate of ammonia, and lewt of muriate of potash. Among 27 first carlics, the greatest yield was 701b (from fib of seed), given by Harrison's Early Short-top, a kidney variety; but it was not raised till September 3, whereas all the other kidneys were raised on August 6. This difference quite spoilt tho test so far as Harrisons variety was concerned. If it was not fit to raise by August 6, even. in Cheshire, it should not be ranked as a first early at all. Next to it among the earlies was Carter s Royally, with 671b. This is a round variety, and, like all but one of the other rounds, it was dug on September 3. All earlies should be dug when "they would be marketed by a commercial grower, as the most valuable is the variety which produces the greatest weight of salable tubers at an early dale. The best crops dug on August 6 (I dig my several earlies as soon- as that) were these King s St. Paul 551b; Duke of Kothsay, 541b: Duke of York. 531b; the Queen, 511b i Sutton s Ninety fold, *8lb; and Sutton's Ringleader, 481b. These are all kidneys. Thirty-one second earlies wero tried, and Duchess of Buocleuch came out a long way ahead, with 1221b or more than 17 times the weight of the seed. But again, it is to be regretted that tho heaviest yielder was left standing till September 16. or longer than some other varieties by 12 days. Probably it would have been at the top anyhow, as the heaviest i crop raised 12 days earlier was 221b less. This was Fir.dlay's Royal Kidney. The lactor (Dobbie's) yielded 21b more than Royal Kidney, but was dug 12 days later. lhe comparatively old favourite, British Queen, came fourth with 971b. These are all kidneys. The heaviest round potato among the second earlies was Gemmel's seedling, which yielded 931b. Among 32 late varieties, Charles Fuller a round sort, came to the to}) with 1261b; but it was not dug till October 1, whereas Yarmon's Monstrous, a kidney, was dug on September 19, yielding 11611).- A trial on a larger scale, one-twentieth of an acre being weighed in each case, was carried out with a smaller number of varieties. The first earlies in this test were Carter's Royalty, Hough Champion, Hough Favourite, Ninetyfold (Sutton's), and Duke of York. All but the last were dug on September 5, and by far the greatest yield was that of Royalty, which gave Hi tons per acre. The Factor was first among nine second earlies, with 17A- tons per acre, followed by Duchess of Buccleuch, with 154 tons, all but lewt, while British Queen, yielding 14 tons llcwt, was third. Among 19 late varieties in this large scale trial the three first were: Up-to-date 13 tons 16cwt; World's Fair, 13 tons 3c.wt; and Lord Dundonald, 12 tons lOcwt. These late sorts were dug ns Boon as the second earlies, yielding less—not a common experience last season. In trials of sots of different sizes, large tubers gave the greatest yield. Whole sets gavo much better results than cut sets, as in previous years. In some experiments with manures the best crop was 14 tons 6cwt per acre, obtained with the help of 16 tons of farm manure, 3cwt of superphosphate, lewt of sulphate of ammonia, and iewt of muriate of potash. The same artificials, without the farm manure, except that the notash was doubled, gave 11 tons scwt; while tho farm manure alone gave 10 tons 17cwt lqr. Tho unmanured plot yielded 8 tons 9cvvt 2qr per acre, showing how fertile the land is. THE LAMBING SEASON. At present the lambing season has not made much progress, except among the Dorset and Somerset flocks, though a start has been made with Hampshire Downs and Suffolk*. So far, however, the reports are favourable. The recent rainy weather was against tho ewes; but they do not appear to have suffered materially in health from it, but January as a rule, has been very dry. One point which tells in favour of the ewes and lambs is the scarcity of turnips, a plethora of which, especially in frosty weather, is a frequent cause of mishaps. So far as the first small batches of reports go, they indicate a good fall of strong lambs; but it will be six weeks before the general result can bo estimated. THE MEAT TRADE. In consequence of the unseasonably mild and damp lnistv weather, which is bad for tho keeping of "moat, as well as restrictive to its consumption, our fat stock and meat markets since the New Year began have been dull, with a downward tendency in prices.