270 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



To Mr. Cook. — What per cent, of actual potash Is there in muriate? 



Answer. — If you buy genuine muriate of potash, in sacks just 

 as it comes from Germany, without being opened, you will get 

 1,000 pounds of potash in a ton. It is the same with sulphate, 

 but the latter costs $10 a ton more, because it has been treated 

 with acid and the chlorine and lime removed. But I do not be- 

 lieve you can afford to go into the market and buy a commercial 

 fertilizer. We can't do it in Lewis county. The first part of the 

 question I cannot answer. 



How much phosphoric acid will we get in a ton of treated South-Caro- 

 lina rocli? 



Mr. Cook. — You will get 250 pounds of acid and 1,200 pounds 

 of pure plaster in a ton, thus giving you the latter practically 

 free. Save your manure. Do not buy nitrogen. If you do, buy 

 it in nitrate of soda, dried blood or cotton seed meal. 



Does it pay to plow under corn, for manure? 



Mr. Terry. — There would be no fertility added; all the benefit 

 would be in the humus, and I would much prefer rye to corn 

 for that purpose, although that would add no nitrogen, as would 

 clover, but it would be preferable, while clover is much better 

 than is the rye. 



Will the use of muck give humus to the soil, and can it furnish any 

 fertilizing element? 



Mr. Van Alstyne. — Muck is largely composed of decayed vege- 

 table matter and will give us humus. There is some fertilizing 

 yalue in some muck; in others not any. But it is a very good 

 absorbent in the stables, especially in the hog pens. 



In taking manure from the stable, is it best to spread it, or leave it in 

 piles? 



Mr. Converge. — Experiments go to show that in no way can 

 there be as much value got out of manure as to draw it out as 

 fast as it is made and spread it where it is to be used. There 

 will be none or but little loss in disposing of it in this way. 



Mr. Smith. — There is no time when there is so much fertilitv in 

 manure as when it ifi first made and no time when it can be 

 handled so cheaply. There can be no loss of mineral matter ex- 



