76 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



the '* two-thirds ration " to 240 pounds, and the " full ration " 

 to 360 pounds per acre. 



At the request of Ex-Director Flagg ten of these coopera- 

 tive experiments were established in the spring of 1890, two 

 being located in each county in the State. An additional acre 

 was provided for upon the farm of the Experiment Station at 

 Kingston. In the latter instance a positive ill effect of the sul- 

 phate of ammonia was noticed the first season. The extent of 

 this injury is best indicated by the yields of stover. Instead 

 of increased yields with each increase in the amount of the 

 sulphate employed those produced with the " one-third," " two- 

 third," and " full rations " were 3,000. 1,500, and 1.300 pounds 

 per acre, respectively. The following year the corresponding 

 yields were 1,840, 1,140, and 825 pounds per acre. By the use 

 of dried blood and nitrate of soda in increasing amounts the 

 tendencies to give increased crops was the general rule. 



At Hope Valley injury from the sulphate of ammonia was 

 visible the second and third years, and indications of approach- 

 ing injury were soon observed in one or two other localities. 



Upon looking up the records of similar injury or those con- 

 cerning the inefficiency of sulphate of ammonia it was found 

 that most of the European experiments with beets showed it to 

 be far inferior to nitrate of soda as a source of nitrogen. With 

 the cereals this was more rarely or less strikingly true. Two 

 or three instances of the bad effect of sulphate of ammonia had 

 been cited by French and German writers but no one seemed 

 to be at all sure of the cause, nor had there been shown to be a 

 positive remedy. 



In speculating concerning the probable reason for the 

 trouble in Rhode Island it was recognized at once that the 

 soil was derived from granitic rock and that in view of the 

 character of the minerals of which it is composed lime might 

 be deficient. It was also already a matter of record that the 

 granitic soils of Scotland need lime. The same was known to 

 be true of certain oi the sandy soils of northern Germany. It 

 had also been recorded by several French writers that suc- 

 cessful agriculture in certain Departments in France was im- 

 possible without resort k) liming, especially where the soil 

 was of granitic or of sandstone origin. Especial emphasis Jiad 

 been laid by these w'riters upon the conditions in the Depart- 

 ment of Limousin. Tliere the soil was derived from granitic 



