24 



HOW TO EXPERIMENT WITH FEETILIZEES. 



The important question in using any fertilizer is "Will it pay?" This can 

 always be answered by a simple "Two Plot Experiment." The details of con- 

 ducting such an experiment are as follows: Select a uniform area of soil and 

 carefully measure out two plots as illustrated. 



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The exact position of the plots in the field should be noted by measured 

 distances from the corners of the plot to permanent stakes by the fence, as 

 shown. Stakes left at the corners of the plot invariably become misplaced 

 through intertillage during the growing seasons and being unnoticed may cause 

 damage to harvesting implements. The plots should be a sufficient distance from 

 the fences of the field so as to be free of the headlands and well away from 

 any trees. Keep the boundaries of the plots at right angles. There should be a 

 dividing strip between each plot, so that the treatment of one plot will not be 

 contaminated with that of another and the results will be entirely separate. The 

 size of the plots may vary according to the convenience of the experimenter, but 

 one-twentieth or one-tenth of an acre is usually most satisfactory for farm crops. 

 ^If no platform scales large enough to take a waggon or cart is available, the 

 difficulties of dealing with the harvest of large areas are too great. With small 

 areas, greater accuracy is required owing to the multiplication of any errors in 

 calculating quantities per acre. Fertilizer plots with vegetables and market garden 

 produce may be very small. The shape of the plots should be long and narrow 

 rather than square so as to ensure a better uniformity of soil. Where the crop 

 is in drills particular attention should be taken to see that the same number of 

 rows are in each plot. 



Eegarding the "Two Plot Experiment" under discussion, both plots are pre- 

 pared in exactly the same manner, receiving an application of farmyard manure 



