•potatoes, wliicli are seldom accurately known. A difference in yield 

 of tifty bnsliels per acre of potatoes will scarcely attract attention as 

 they lie in their })laces on the ground after digging. 



In the personal experience of the Avriter these statements have 

 been abundantly verihed. On one occasion a field was planted to 

 early potatoes, there being applied 700 lbs. per acre of a high grade 

 complete fertilizer costing $40 per ton. As was the custom under 

 such circumstances, some rows were left unfertilized for compari- 

 son. At harvest time the workmen were instructed to dig fertilized 

 and unfertilized rows, leaving the potatoes in their rows side by side 

 for examination. When ready the writer inspected them carefully 

 and while there was a slight difference observable, the verdict ren- 

 dered as the result of inspection only, was, "Not enough increase to 

 pay cost of fertilizer." Pressed with work, the impulse was to 

 have the potatoes picked up without further care, but a wiser thought 

 prevailed and a definite area was laid off and the potatoes from it 

 carefully measured, when, to the surprise of all, the yield of the fer- 

 tilized rows exceeded that of the unfertilized by 62-g- bu. per acre. 



This occurred in August and these potatoes had a ready market 

 at ninety cents per bushel. The value of the increase was $56.25 

 per acre. The cost of the fertilizer was $14.00 per acre, and, if 

 $2.00 are allowed as the cost of applying the same, the total expense 

 on account of fertiHzer was $16.00 per acre, leaving $40.25 as net 

 profit. And yet we were on the point of turning away from this 

 experiment saying " the fertilizer does not pay." 



After some experience in experimental work, farmers come to 

 know tliat " judging by the eye " is entirely unreliable, and will adopt 

 more accurate methods much to the advantage of their business. 



Aside from the value of the data obtained and 



Closer rela- the educational effect upon the farmer, these experi- 



tions be- ments are valuable as a means of bringing the Col- 



tween Farm- lege and the farmers into closer relationship. The 



ers and the College and Station staff need to know more of the 



Colleg'e. farmer's successes and failures and of the problems 



that are perplexing him. They are thus enabled to 



direct their investigations along lines that will be more directly help- 



519 



