176 ' Bulletin 156. 



was to determine something of the possibiHties of the soil when 

 superior methods of tillage were practiced. A study of the 

 statistics of crop production in New York and other states 

 revealed the fact that something was radically wrong with the 

 soil or with the methods being pursued. The average 3'ield of 

 the ordinary farm crops had fallen so low that in many ca'-es 

 actual loss resulted in their production. This condition prevail- 

 ing while the soil was yet comparativel}' new, led to the belief 

 that tillage was being neglected. The experiments were planned 

 to learn what could be accomplished by superior tillage and care. 

 The results of these experiments for previous years have been 

 recorded in bulletins 130 and 140 of this station. While the 

 results for 1898 do not differ materially from the results hereto- 

 fore secured, yet it seems wise to publish the same. 



Details of expeydmeiit. — The land selected for the experiment 

 was a portion of the series of plats upon which the experiments 

 had been conducted in previous years. The soil is gravelly and 

 porous and especially subject to injurious effects from droughts. 

 The potato crop grown this year is the fifth crop removed from 

 the land since any fertilizer or manure has been applied. The 

 soil is beginning to show a deficiency of humus owing to the 

 intensive culture which has been given and the slight returns of 

 organic matter. While cover crops of crimson clover, wheat or 

 rye have been used, yet necessarily the growth has been restricted 

 and the amount available to plow under in the spring has been 

 small. The result of this deficiency of humus is shown in the 

 tendency of the soil to become hard and compact under the 

 effects of beating rains. In order to keep a soil permanently in 

 good physical condition, it is absolute!}^ necessary that organic 

 matter be returned in some way either b}' green manuring 

 or the use of barn manures. 



Previous treatmejit of the soil. — The plats entering into the 

 experiment have been cropped heavily for five years since any 

 manures were applied wnth the exceptions noted below. In the 

 winter of 1893-4, about ten tons of mixed barn manure were 

 applied per acre. In 1894 all plats were planted to corn which 

 was one of the regular crops in the four 3'ears rotation. Previous 

 to 1894 the rotation which had been practiced was 



