REPORT OF THE Dl RECTOR 19 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



SPECIAL EXPERT^[EXTS WITH EEKTILTZERS. 



In the annual report of the experimental farms for 1893, details were given on 

 pages 8 to 24 of the results of a series of tests which had then been carried on for some 

 years with the object of gaining information regarding the effects which follow the 

 application of certain fertilizers and combinations of fertilizers on the more important 

 farm crops. The particulars there given covered the results of six years' experience 

 with crops of wheat and Indian corn, and five years' experience with crops of oats, 

 barley, turnips and mangels. The results of similar tests conducted for three years 

 with carrots and one year with sugar beets were also given. 



These experiments have been continued, and a summary of the results obtained 

 has been given each year, taking the average yield of crops from the beginning, adding 

 the results for the current year, and then giving the average yield for the full time. 

 These tests were undertaken on virgin soil, on a piece of land which was cleared for the 

 purpose. For particulars regarding the clearing and preparing of the land for crop 

 in 1887-88 and its subsequent treatment, the reader is referred to the earlier issues of 

 thi^ report. 



OBJECT IX VIEW IX CONDUCTIXG THESE EXPERIMENTS. 



In establishing and conducting this series of experiments, the object in view has 

 been to gain information as to the effects produced by certain fertilizers and combina- 

 tions of fertilizers on particular crops. They wore never intended to serve as model 

 test plots such as farmers could copy with advantage in their general practice. On the 

 contrary, to gain the information desired, it has been found necessary to use some fer- 

 tilizers in unusual quantities, and in other instances to more or less exhaust the soil by 

 a succession of crops of the same sort, practices which in ordinary farming would bo 

 extravagant or detrimental. From this long conducted series of tests much useful 

 information has been gained, which appeals to the mind with greater force as experience 

 accumulates from year to year. 



VALUABLE IXFORMATIOX GAIXED. 



These trials have shown that barn-yard manure can be most economically used in 

 the fresh or unrotted condition; that fresh manure is equal, ton for ton, in crop-pro- 

 ducing power to rotted manure, which, other experiments have shown, loses daring the 

 process of rotting about GO per cent of its weight. In view of the vast importance of 

 making the best possible use of barn-yard manure, it is difficult to estimate the value 

 of this one item of information. 



Wlien these experiments were planned, the opinion was very generally held that 

 untreated mineral phosphate, if very finely ground, was a valuable fertilizer, which 

 gradually gave up its phosphoric acid for the promotion of plant growth. Ten years' 

 experience has shown that mineral phosphate, untreated, is of no value as a fertilizer. 



The use of sulphate of iron, v,-hich at the time these tests were begun, was highly 

 recommended, as a mecni^ of producing increased crops, has also been proven to be of 

 very little value for this purpose. 



Common salt, which has long had a reputation with many farmers for its value as 

 a fertilizer for barley, while others disbelieved in its efficacy, has been shown to be a 

 most valuable agent for producing an increased crop of that grain, while it is of much 

 less use when applied to crops of spring wheat or oats. Land plaster or gypsum has 

 also proven to be of seme value as a fertilizer for barley, while of very little service for 

 wheat or oats. Some light has also been thrown on the relative usefulness of single 

 and combined fertilizers. 



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