46 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH MANURES. 



ESSEX. 

 [From the Report of the Committee.] 



Mr. Ware's statement leads one to infer that the main 

 point of his experiment was to determine which of two 

 prominent commercial fertilizers is the best for his land. For 

 that purpose the experiment was very successful ; for one 

 gave a much better crop of corn than the other. But, as Mr. 

 Ware did not test the productive capacity of the land with- 

 out manure, we have no data from which to calculate the 

 cost of the corn produced by either fertilizer. 



The main point of Mr. King's experiment seems to have 

 been to determine whether it is good economy for him to grow 

 corn with the Stockbridge Fertilizer. His crop was large ; 

 his land was evidently in good condition without the fer- 

 tilizer : but, as he did not test its capacity, we cannot tell how 

 much the fertilizer increased the crop. 



Mr. Appleton's experiment was a test between the Stock- 

 bridge and stable-manure, with present results very much 

 in favor of the Stockbridge Fertilizer. 



I think it well for practical farmers, one and all, to admit 

 that chemical fertilizers are, and are to be, to stable-manure, 

 what coal is to wood, what kerosene is to whale oil : they are 

 to come out of the earth to supply the wants of man, when 

 the surface-supply gets short. 



The first question for every farmer to ask about chemical 

 manures is, Do I need them at present prices ? Second, If 

 needed, how shall I determine what is needed ? Some buy 

 what is supposed to be a complete fertilizer for all plants. If 

 they get this, they get what is needed, and probably pay for 

 much that is not needed. Some buy a complete fertilizer for 

 the special crop they wish to grow : if they get this, they get 

 what is needed, and perhaps some that is not. 



