82 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



1|), the potash is increased from .88 to 2.56 pounds, or nearly 

 three times. 



These experiments of Knap's are of interest, as they indicate 

 that there is no loss of fertile elements during growth, at least 

 so far as phosphoric acid is concerned ; while compared with 

 our results, as given in fodder ratios, the same fact is not only 

 indicated with reference to potash, but the additional fact, 

 that potash may be absorbed largely in excess of the needs of 

 the plant, under given conditions. 



We thus see, that if the plant can be grow^n to maturity in 

 water-culture, by means of chemicals alone, as established by 

 Stohmann, and that there is no loss of chemicals from the plant 

 during growth, as indicated by Knap, our proposition is theo- 

 retically established, that if the chemical elements of the crop 

 are supplied in proper form to the plant, we may obtain them 

 again in an organized form through the agency of cultivation 

 and care. 



We may also add another proposition : that if we should 

 apply the chemicals for our crop, we should look for our 

 results in the entire crop, and not in a portion alone. We 

 cannot prophesy the amount of grain that a given amount of 

 chemicals may grow, because so much depends on the variety 

 of seed, and the season. If a given portion of the fertilizer, 

 beyond what is essential to the plant as a grain grower, is 

 determined through the agency of season or heredity to the 

 leaf and stalk, then that portion is lost to the grain. Hence 

 the uncertainty in practice of predicating results which must 

 follow from unknown conditions. 



This seeming solution of the question, however, is very far 

 from being a practical one. It is easy to supply our chemical 

 elements to the soil, but can we supply them to our jiJant? 

 The question of the economical use of commercial fertilizers 

 depends upon the answer to this question. If we may so 

 supply them, chemical farming becomes a possibility, and 

 may well compete with dung-heap fiirming, and with a greater 

 probabilit}" of successful results to be derived from the appli- 

 cation of the fertilizer. 



If we should make a solution of our chemical, and apply it 

 to our soil, we would find an action of the soil taking place, 

 of great interest towards the solving of our problem. The 



