N EW YoKK Agricdltural Experiment Station. 230 



follow with most soils where a rotation of crops is not practiced. 

 During- the course of the experiment insect and fungus troubles 

 and excess of water caused more or less damage, the instances 

 of which will be mentioned in the proper connections. 



As stated, two fields were used, the Purdy field for four years 

 and the Mars field for one year. In 1897 the former field pro- 

 duced a crop of onions, receiving a small application of commer- 

 cial fertilizer. Previous to 1897 the crops had been grass, corn 

 and potatoes. The Mars field had been generously manured in 

 previous years. ' 



NOTES. 



In the conduct of these experiments approved methods of cul- 

 ture were followed at the hands of experienced onion growers. 

 The fertilizer was sown broadcast before the drilling of the seed. 

 The planting generally occurred late in April and the harvesting 

 of the crop during the last half of August. 



Unfavorable conditions prevailed to some extent every year 

 of the experiments. 



In 1898 Plat 10 of the Purdy field was flooded for a short 

 time soon after the young plants made their appearance. Again 

 in 1900 Plats 7, 8, 9 and 10 were partially flooded on two occa- 

 sions, but this occurred late in August, not long before the 

 crop was gathered, and as the onions which had rotted were 

 weighed, the figures given show the approximate yield. The 

 crops suffered more or less every year from smut, mildew and 

 the maggot, but the plats appear not to have been injured to a 

 sufficiently unlike extent to seriously impair the accuracy of the 

 work in measuring the yield. 



In 1900 and 1901 a mixture of sulphur and lime in the propor- 

 tion of 2 to 1 by weight was sown with the seed at the rate of 

 150 lbs. per acre. This was sown as a preventive of smut. 



Several tables follow showing the plat yield, the acreage yield 

 calculated both in pounds and bushels and the outcome of the 

 experiments considered from a financial point of view. 



