1883.] FERTILIZERS. 73 



ratio to the quantity applied, up to a certain point. Here is 

 nothing ; 200 pounds ; 400 pounds ; 800 pounds ; 1600 

 pounds. You could walk along and see the indications of 

 the effect of the fertilizers on the corn, according to the 

 amounts applied. But when we came to the crop, we had no 

 indication that any fertilizer or barn-yard manure was of the 

 slightest use upon corn or potatoes this year. 



Question. Did you analyze the fertilizer, to see whether 

 it was good for anything ? 



Dr. Sturtevant. Everything used was good. The barn- 

 yard manure and all were good. 



Mr. Augur. Was the ground on the same grade ? 



Dr. Sturtevant. A very gentle slope. It may have 

 fallen two or three feet from the liighest to the lowest point. 

 It was kept free from weeds by chopping them off with a 

 hoe. The result is, that these two experiments balance each 

 other. If I had had but one of these series, the one which 

 resulted in favor of cultivation, I should have said that those 

 twenty plots were sufficient to settle the point in favor of 

 cultivation ;. but as I happened to figure on the other series 

 first, and found the i^esults against cultivation, I was not 

 willing to believe it ; that is all. 



Question. I would like to inquire whether the fertilizer 

 was spread on top or plowed in ? and also, whether we are to 

 understand that the cultivated ground was hoed, or the culti- 

 vator run through it, and the uncultivated portion was not 

 touched ? 



Dr. Sturtevant. The uncultivated portion means that the 

 weeds were kept down by pulling or with the hoe, without 

 disturbing the soil. The cultivation means hoeing and the 

 use of the cultivator, as a good farmer would do in ordinary 

 practice. The fertilizers were applied in all ways, nearly; on 

 the surface, under tlie surface, and in the drill. 



Question. Would you have us understand that you got 

 more corn by not cultivating ? 



• Dr. Sturtevant. No, sir. I would have you understand 

 that in one case we got more, and in the other we got less, 



