104 Report of Farmers' Institutes 



the use of mixed commercial fertilizers — with special reference 

 to the " Trj-a-Bag " propaganda. Much valuable and interest- 

 ing experimental work is here summarized to bring out the im- 

 portance of judicious rather than indiscriminate use of fertiliz- 

 ing materials. 



Improving Iowa peat and much soils. (Iowa, 157.) The in- 

 vestigations were confined to the shallow peats, not over four feet 

 in depth, as the deeper deposits are commercially valuable as fuel. 

 These beds are underlaid with clayey or muck subsoils, which are 

 rich in potassium and contain some phosphorus, so that the lack 

 of these two elements in the peat does not greatly restrict crop 

 production. As limestone, gypsum, phosphorus or potassium 

 applied alone or in combination gave no profitable increases in 

 series of tests at three places, the authors conclude that the shal- 

 low Iowa peats do not need the addition of commercial fertilizing 

 materials to make them productive, but do need physical improve- 

 ment, involving adequate drainage, proper plowing and cultiva- 

 tion, and choice of crop best suited to such soils. Thorough un- 

 derdraining is necessary, w'ith properly placed and properly sized 

 outlets to remove surplus water and to care for flood waters 

 from surrounding areas. Deep fall plowing is advocated, wnth 

 frequent cultivation. Timothy and alsike is perhaps the best crop 

 for reclaimed peat, while corn and small grain usually do not do 

 well for several years. Vegetables, such as onions, celery, toma- 

 toes, potatoes, etc., often give excellent returns on such soils. 



Kentucky Station teachings on soil fertility. (Ky. 191.) In 

 general, these teachings are: (1) That Kentucky farmers should 

 purchase as little nitrogen as possible, but secure this element by 

 the growth of legumes, after making conditions favorable by the 

 use of limestone and phosphorus, w^here necessary. (2) That 

 most of the soils of the state, except in the Bluegrass region, 

 are low or deficient in phosphorus, which element should be sup- 

 plied in the form of acid phosphate until the humus content of 

 the soil can be improved, after which raw rock phosphate is most 

 economical. (3) That potassium exists in exhaustless store in 

 most of the soils of the state, and that it may be made available 

 in amount suflUcient for tlie growth of good crops by the use of 

 legumes, limestone and phosphorus. Special soils like muck and 



