Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. The text given here is from Seventh Annual Report presented by the Council to the Board of Agriculture, p. 24 (B66.13.04).

DR. MUELLER'S REPORT UPON PHOSPHORIC POTASH MANURE.

Melbourne, Botanical Gardens, 12th June, 1866.

TO THE COUNCIL OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

Gentlemen,

In reference to the phosphoric potash manure submitted to me for test through the Board of Agriculture, I have the honor to inform you that, as might be expected from the elementary composition of this fertilizing substance, it proved stimulating to the growth of various plants to which it was applied. Plants standing in need of rich nutriment of potash, such as turnips, beet, and potatoes, would especially be benefited by this fertilizing composition; and again, on those crops which, for their maturation, require an appreciable quantum of phosphoric acid—for instance, on all cereals — the phosphoric potash manure would exercise a favorable influence. The quantity of the Ballarat patent manure submitted to me was far too small to enter with it on any elaborate investigation. If about a cwt. was obtained, an interesting series of comparative experiments might be instituted for arriving at a positive conclusion in what relation this fertilizer is standing to guano, farm-yard manure, and earth-closet manure, the price of each being fairly taken into account.

2

M's report, on 'the Ballarat phosphoric potash manure', was brought up at the meeting of the Board of Agriculture on 20 June (Ballarat star, 21 June 1866, p. 2; see B66.06.07). At a subsequent meeting of the Board on 23 July, a letter was 'read from the Victorian Patent Manure Company, Ballarat, stating that the company would send supplies of the manure from time to time in order that a series of investigations might be made' (Ballarat star, 26 July 1866, p. 2).

I may mention that I am engaged in tracing the effect of the earth-closet manure on a number of different plants, by the application of determined quantities of each.