Influence of Fertilizers on the Yield of Timothy Hay. 339 



It will be noted that in the baskets there was a depression in the 

 yield whenever acid phosphate was applied, except in one instance, 

 where the yields were the same. 



Not only did nitrate of soda cause a marked increase in the yield of 

 timothy hay, but 320 pounds gave much larger yields than 160 

 pounds ; thus 160 pounds of nitrate of soda with 320 pounds acid 

 phosphate and 80 pounds of muriate of potash gave an average 

 total yield during two years of 5570 pounds, while an application 

 of 320 pounds of nitrate of soda with the same quantity of mineral 

 fertilizer as before, gave an average yield of 7015 pounds and an 

 apparent increase yield of 4167 pounds per acre. In 1906, 640 

 pounds of nitrate of soda was applied to plat 728 with the same 

 amount of mineral fertilizers as heretofore. Since the plat re- 

 ceived no fertilizer the previous year, no conclusion may be drawn 

 from the slightly increased yield obtained, but it was evident from 

 observing the growth during the season, that 640 pounds of nitrate 

 of soda was too large an application for the soil and the climate. 

 Aside from the stable manure, the most satisfactory yield was ob- 

 tained by applying 320 pounds of nitrate of soda, 320 pounds of 

 acid phosphate and 80 pounds of muriate of potash. This is equal 

 to an application of 720 pounds of an 8-7-6 mixed fertilizer. The 

 ordinary mixed fertilizers usually contain a much larger proportion 

 of phosphoric acid and potash. 



It seems probable from these results that more economical 

 results could have been obtained by the application of a different 

 quantity and a different proportion of the several ingredients. If 

 called upon to suggest an application, which would probably bring 

 under a proper rotation the most favorable results on Dunkirk clay 

 loam in this climate, we should tentatively propose 200 pounds of 

 nitrate of soda, 100 pounds of acid phosphate and 50 pounds of 

 muriate potash. We do not mean by this that these carriers should 

 necessarily be used, although probably as good as any, but that 

 equivalent amounts of available elements carried by these should 

 be used. It would be equivalent to the application of 250 pounds 

 of a 15-6-10 mixed fertilizer. 



Thus far the largest average yield has been obtained by the use of 

 stable manure. A single application at the rate of 20 tons per acre 

 produced an apparent increase of 11.2 bushels of oats in 1904; 

 4025 pounds of hay in 1905 ; 5010 pounds of hay per acre in 1906. 

 At the average December farm prices for oats and hay in New 

 York State this increase would be worth $51.69, or $2.58 per ton 

 of manure applied. 



When the application was at the rate of ten tons, the apparent 

 increase in yield of oats was 5.3 bushels; of hay in 1905, 2595 



