EXPERIMENTAL FARMING- 



US 



fliscussing in their agricultural meetings. It is, in fact, tlio most 

 important question with which we have to deal in agriculture, for it 

 is on the fertility of the soil that all successful farm operations de- 

 pend. 



Through the investigations that have been made in plant nutrition, 

 we have learned what constitutes a fertile soil. AVe have learned 

 what elements must be contained in a soil to make it capable of 

 producing plants. "VVe know that besides other substances which 

 are essential to the health and life of plants, but which arc seldom 

 wanting in any soil, phosphoric acid, potash and nitrogen must be 

 present in the soil in an available form, in quantities sufficient to 

 supply the wants of a crop, to make that soil fertile. 



The fact thus briefly stated is the foundation on which the princi- 

 ples of manuring are based. And the practical result of this knowl- 

 edge is, tliat when farmers come to understand these principles, they 

 can go into the markets and purchase commercial fertilizers with as 

 much confidence of obtaining profitable crops from their ap[)lication 

 to the soil, as when stable manures are used. 



The facts that have been brought to light bj- investigations in 

 animal nutrition have been scarcely less beneficial to agriculture, for 

 the}' have given us the laws that will eventually lead us to a rational 

 system of cattle feeding. But it is a mistaken idea that the bare 

 statement of the facts, which have been discovered in plant and 

 animal nutrition, is going to be of any material advantage to the 

 farmer without study on his part. There is experimental work re- 

 quired to learn how the discoveries can be applied to the special 

 conditions under which each farmer is laboring. 



The chief cause of the failures which many of our farmers have 

 experienced in the use of artificial and commercial fertilizers, is, 

 •without doubt, due to the neglect of the farmer to study the special 

 needs of his soil. Farmers in general appear to ignore the fact, that 

 if manures are to be used with economy, it is quite as esssential to 

 know what their soil can furnish for the growth of a crop as it is to 

 know what the crop requires for its growth. Nitrogenous manures, 

 phosphatic manures, and those furnishing potash, are api)lie(l hap- 

 hazard, without regard to what the soil needs. Naturally many 

 failures must result from such use of manures. 



Before engaging extensively- in the use of commercial fertilizers, 

 as thorough and S3stematic a stud}' of the needs of the soil should 

 be made as has been made of the needs of the crop, and this can 



