Field Experiments with Fertilizers. 313 



disappointed because it required so much " time and fussing." Of 

 all the experimenters only one failed entirely to catch the spirit of the 

 work ; owing to some misunderstanding he dumped the small sacks 

 of fertilizers into a tub, mixed them together, and applied the mixture 

 on a small plat of land. He reported that he thought the fertilizer 

 increased the crop somewhat — a report of no use to him or to us. 



A number of the experimenters made the mistake of measuring 

 off too small plats and consequently the fertiUzers in some cases 

 injured the crop. A large number did the work well and kept 

 good records, but many of them unfortunately omitted the check 

 plat without fertilizers. This plat was absolutely necessary as a 

 standard for the measuring of the crops grown on the several 

 fertilized plats. Without it the results obtained on the fertiHzed 

 ' plats were almost worthless for the experimenter ; he could not decide 

 whether or not any of the fertilizers had increased the yields, or 

 whether any one gave a profitable crop. However, notwithstanding 

 all these unfortunate drawbacks there were many experimenters who 

 followed all the directions and felt that they had profited by the work. 



In 1897 and again in 1898, fertilizers were used at the rate of 

 200 lbs. of nitrate of soda, 400 lbs. of superphosphate and 200 lbs- 

 of muriate of potash per acre. Owing to the prevalence of acid 

 soils, in 1898 it was advised to use lime when convenient, on half of 

 each plat at the rate of two tons per acre. In 1899 the application 

 of fertilizers was increased to 300 lbs. of nitrate of soda, 600 lbs. of 

 superphosphate and 300 lbs. of muriate of potash per acre. 



Acid soils. — Within the last few years the subject of acid soils 

 has been brought to the attention of farmers and questions are fre- 

 quently asked about this acidity or sourness of soils. While travel- 

 ing about the State, the Station representative had exceptional 

 opportunity for testing various soils for acidity ; the tests were made 

 by leaving blue litmus-paper in contact with the moist soil for five 

 minutes. The presence of acid in the soil would be indicated by a 

 reddening of the paper. One hundred and eighty- six tests were 

 made in different parts of the State ; of these, 160 indicated the 

 presence of considerable acidity. Generally, the most acid soils 

 were found to be uplands, usually sandy or light clay loams and 

 especially soils underlaid with hardpan. In several cases low-lying, 

 wet, muck soils were tested and were found to be free from acid. 



