DOUGLAS SCHOOL EXPERIMENTAL PLOTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1915, Page 7

DOUGLAS SCHOOL EXPERIMENTAL PLOTS.

The following results of an experiment in root growing, carried out at the Douglas School under the direction of Mr. J. Jones, have been furnished by Mr. J. 0. Ellis, Schools Instructor in Agriculture and Dairying, and may prove to be of interest to our readers: — ABERDEEN PURPLE TOP TURNIP. Tons Cwt. Lbs. No manure ......... 22 13 M Superphosphate .......... 27 0 20 Potash 21 12 16 Blood and bone 31 8 63 Lime and potash 17 5 80 CRIMSON KING SWEDE. No manure 25 13 19 Superphosphate 55 1 10S Potash vr.r.-.v.; 47 10 SO Blood and bone ... .. 20 5 15 Super and lime 39 19 52 SUPERLATIVE SWEDE. No manure ~ 33 4 47 Superphosphate 52 2 01 Potash 48 1 58 Blood and Bone 20 5 .15 Lime, blood, and bone ... 39 3 29 CHAMPION YELLOW GLOBE MANGEL. No manure 8 2 fi Superphosphate 30 5 0 Potash 25 18 64 Blood and bone 10 lfi 8 Potash, blood, and bone .. 29 14 22 AIAMMOTH LONG RED MANGEL. No manure 18 4 12 Superphosphate 28 7 21 Potash 20 8. 89 Blood and bone 2 14 Super and potash 21 1 38

ALTRIXGHAM CARROT. No manure 22 19 17 Superphosphate 22 2 106 Potash 38 12 51 Blood and bono 22 8 39 Super, blood, and bone .. 39 8 .74 The garden is only a small one, the total area under cultvation being 240 square yards, but the crops averaged 29 tons 4cwt. 93 l-31b per acre. Several very interesting points are worth noting: (a)' The fine yields on the control plots (no manure).' These very excellent returns are doubless due to cultivation; (b) the influence of superphosphate on Swede growth; (c) the effect, of potash on carrots and mangels; (d) the comparative failure of mangels with blood and bone as a nitrogenous manure. The work was excellently done, and reflects credit upon the master, and should prove a valuable object lesson in the district.