g2 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



which insures you the greatest profit, or if there is an}- profit in the 

 use of an}' kind. The chances are that j'ou will find that one kind 

 has a much better effect on 3-our corn or wheat than another. Do not 

 watch 3-our neighbor, and judge from his results, what 3-ou had bet- 

 ter do, tr}- for 3-ourself. We have alread3- learned some facts that ma}'^ 

 serve as hints, nothing more. All other things being equal, save the 

 difference in the crops growing, good results are most likel3^ to fol- 

 low from the use of nitrogeneous fertilizers on grain or grass ; potash 

 on potatoes and roots, while phosphates seem in general, to come 

 in well with all crops. Generalh', a mixture of the three valuable 

 ingredients, with one or two greatl}' preponderating, is best. Prof. 

 Atwater's efforts have prett3- clearl}- brought out the fact that it does 

 not pa3- to use much nitrogen in growing corn, but that phosphoric 

 acid and potash, one or both, with a small quantit3- of nitrogeneous 

 manures can most safel3' be applied if a profit is desired. 



In the case of sugar beets, manured solel}- with commercial fertil- 

 izers, a mixture of the three valuable ingredients is wisest w-hen the 

 interests of both the farmer and sugar manufacturer are considered. 

 The application of phosphoric acid tends to increase the percentage 

 of sugar in the beets, but if superphosphate alone be used, they 

 stop growing and ripen too earl3'. To counteract this tendenc3- to 

 earl3' ripening and keep them growing until the}- are large, nitrogen- 

 ous manures should also be used. The large quautit3- of potash, 

 which beets extract from the soil, would cause the soil to become 

 " beet-sick," (as the Germans sa3-) after a while, if no potash was 

 in the manure. As before stated, no nitrogen compounds need be 

 applied to clover, and this doubtless holds true for all leguminous 

 plants, such as peas and beans. I will again quote from former 

 remarks : 



"Is it well for farmers to bu3' commercial fertilizers? The profits 

 of so doing will depend largel3- upon three conditions : 



1. Some reliable guarantee of the quality of the fertilizer bought, 

 should be furnished. 



2. Farmers should be sufficiently informed about commercial 

 manures to understand how to buy the ingredients the}- desire. 



3. Farmers should be sufficientl3- acquainted with the needs of 

 their farm to know what ingredients the soil needs in order to give 

 a profitable increase of an3- particular crop." 



Man3' manuring formulas have been concocted, such as the 

 " Stockbridge Manures," " Mapes Complete Manures," &c. 



