Abstract
DR. GILBERT has, in the form of a lecture recently delivered at the Royal Agricultural College, given a résumé of twelve years of experimental work in connection with the growth of potatoes. The subject is in itself highly interesting, including, as it does, a large number of important questions relating to the propagation of new varieties, the proper cultivation of the ground, the potato-blight, as well as the best fertilizers for the crop. Dr. Gilbert at once disclaims all idea of entering upon the larger questions involved in potato-cultivation, and confines himself entirely to that of fertilizers, and in regard to this point he is not able to throw much fresh light upon the usual practices of growers. The old story of the value of a due apportionment of nitrogenous and mineral substances is clearly shown to be required for the growth of potatoes, as for all crops.. The value of farmyard manure is also well indicated in a manner which, on the whole, supports the present practice of all good farmers. The meagre results obtained from mere mineral manures, unassisted by nitrogenous manures, are also well brought out. The practice of employing liberal dressings of clung, superphosphate, and potash salts^or of substituting nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia for farmyard dung, is simply indorsed by Dr. Gilbert's results, and, beyond this, no new light is shed upon the subject of fertilizers for potatoes.
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Results of Experiments Upon the Growth of Potatoes at Rothamsted . Nature 39, 595 (1889). https://doi.org/10.1038/039595b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/039595b0