288 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



(1) According to Prof. Voorhees, of New Jersey, a fifty-bushel 

 (100 crate or basket) crop of corn and the accompanying stalks 

 will remove from the acre of soil on which they grow 



80 pounds of nitrogen, 



29 pounds of phosphoric acid, and 



55 pounds of potash. 



(2) However rich or poor the soil (in Michigan) it should 

 furnish at least a part of these materials, and a well-cared for 

 soil should furnish a very considerable part of them, or all of 

 them, 



(3) It is important that the young plants, as they begin to 

 send down their roots and to throw out their leaves, be well 

 supplied with nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash. The 

 amounts the soil itself will be able to supply them will depend 

 upon how well it has been previously handled, and the care with 

 which it has been prepared for tJiis year's crop. If there is not 

 a natural supply at this time for the young plant, there should 

 be an artificial one. 



(4) A good supply of potash is needed throughout the growth 

 of the plant, but its usefulness practically ceases when the final 

 maturing of the gTain begins. 



(5) Nitrogen is required in increasing quantity during the 

 growing season. It is applied artificially in less quantities than 

 are phosphoric acid and potash, and especially so if the soil is well 

 supplied with organic matter, because as the season advances 

 the nitrogen of the organic matter is made available in increas- 

 ing quantities, bj' the nitrifiers, for the growing crop. 



An excess of nitrogen in the soil retards the maturing of the 

 crop and mm/ interfere icith the development of tJw grain. 



(6) The importance of phosphoric acid increases as the crop 

 approaches maturity. ^'Phosphoric acid forces or Jwstens ma- 

 turity." 



(7) Clover sod is the place for c&rn. Some authorities state 

 that even upon a well-manured clover sod some artificial fertil- 

 izers should be added. 



(8) On the other hand some reputable farmers in Michigan 

 who have made trials of commercial fertilizers upon manured 

 clover sod, assert that no appreciable benefit was derived from 

 this use of the fertilizers. 



FURTHER FACTS AND THEORY. 



A ton of fresh manure from the horse barn contains 

 10 pounds of nitrogen, 

 5.2 pounds phosphoric acid, and 

 9.5 pounds potash. 



A ton of fresh manure from the cow barn contains 

 8.5 pounds nitrogen, 

 6 pounds phosphoric acid, and 

 9 pounds potash. 

 These are averages for well-fed animals and are abundaotly cou- 

 servative. 



