226 Repokt on Crop Fkoddction of the 



Attention is called to the great variations in tlie rainfall 

 during the four months most important in the life of the plants. 

 In 1899 there was a deficiency in available water but not in 

 1901. 



The soil of the Station farm is a strong clay loam, well 

 adapted to general farming and capable of producing large 

 crops when well handled. 



The plats used in the beet experiments could not be regarded 

 as especially deficient in fertility, and would not respond to the 

 application of manures as would poorer land. 



The methods used in the cultivation of the crop were those 

 approved by past practice and no detailed statement concerning 

 them is necessary in this connection. 



THE MANURE. 



The stable manure used was a mixture of that coming from 

 the cow and horse stables of the Station, sufficiently composted 

 and mixed to render it fine and of uniform composition. The 

 manure actually applied to the beet soil was analyzed only one 

 year, 1901. Manure from the same general source and used in 

 another experiment was analyzed in 1897, 1898 and 1899. From 

 the data thus secured it is possible to know approximately the 

 amounts of plant food supplied to the crops from this source. 



Table III. — Composition of Manure Made in the Station Stables. 



Phosphoric 

 Year. Water. Nitrogen. acid. Potash. 



Per ct. Per ct. Per ct. Per ct. ' 



1897 73.9 .389 .3G0 .342 Used on corn. 



ISOS 76.1 .303 .241 .593 Used on corn. 



1899 74.3 .529 .576 .851 Used on wheat. 



1901 78.3 .445 .382 .738 Used on beets. 



In 1901 the manure was applied at the rate of 80,000 lbs. per 

 acre, in all other years at the rate of 40,000 lbs. 



The commercial fertilizer mixture was essentially the same 

 tln-oughout. Its ingredients and approximate composition are 

 given in Table IV. 



