PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE. 173 



tests made upon the soil itself what plant food it is unable to 

 furnish. In this experiment, Groups A and B, Nos. 1-9, 

 the question what does this soil need? is asked in difierent 

 forms. From Nos. 1-3, we seek to learn the effect of nitro- 

 gen alone, but in different combinations. No. 4 will tell the 

 effect of sulphuric acid alone. No. 5, the effect of potash 

 alone. Nos. 6-8, the effect of the ingredients two by two. 



Group C, tests the effects of complete fertilizers, that con- 

 tain the mineral ingredients for a crop of corn of about fifty 

 bushels to the acre, with nitrogen added in the proportions 

 of one-third, two-thirds, and the whole amount required by 

 the crop. Nos. 9-11 give nitrogen in the form of nitrate of 

 soda. Nos. 12-14 give it in the form of nitrate of soda, 

 sulphate of ammonia and animal mjitter mixed. 



From Group D, we shall learn the effect of complete ma- 

 nures, in which the nitrogen is supplied in still other forms 

 of combination — sulphate of ammonia, dried blood, Peruvian 

 ffuano and stable manure. 



Ranged along the platform you will see a sample hill of 

 corn from each plat of the experiment, twenty in all. While 

 nothing definite and positive is taught by these samples, it is 

 interesting to notice them. Apparently nitrogen, the most 

 expensive component of the complete fertilizer, gives the 

 poorest return. No manure is no poorer. Nos. 4 and 5, 

 which show the mineral ingredients singly, promise a better 

 yield. Two of the ingredients together show better results. 

 The three insfredients too-ether show still laro-er growth, and 

 stable manure overtops them all. Farmers in this county 

 will hardl}^ be so deeply interested in this experiment as will 

 those in the older counties, where the native fertility was 

 long ago exhausted from the soil, and the question, "How 

 shalll manure my fields?" is one of vital importance. Your 

 anxiety lies in tha direction of " How shall I dispose of the 

 bountiful crops from my fertile fields ?" But even the lands 

 of Aroostook will wear out, and the knowledge we are striv- 

 ing to gain by asking questions of the soil will some time be 

 needed here. 



