EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 257 



ately, for it was out of the question to duplicate it as suggested above, 

 because it would be a difficult matter to take care of 96 large cultures and 

 carry them to maturity. The wheat grew well under greenhouse condi- 

 tions and was normal in all respects except that it took a little longer for 

 it to mature. 



Later, other soils as well as other crops should be treated by this plan. 

 A determination of the best ratio of combination of fertilizer ingredients 

 appears then to be the best way of working out the fertihzer requirement 

 of soils or crops, far better in fact than by making use of the chemical 

 analysis of the soil or crop. During the winter several preliminary and 

 five complete short term experiments were set up with corn, wheat and 

 oats to determine various points in doubt in the general problem. 



The spring before the close of the fiscal year three field experiments 

 were started. The first was layed out on the Station farm, on poor, 

 sandy soil. The piece of land was about two acres in size. The crop was 

 oats. With the results of last summer's experiments before us we were 

 able to see which changes and modifications were necessary in our plan. 

 This time we emphasized two things: first, the various combinations (36), 

 •and secondly, the total amount of fertilizer added per acre. This is the 

 same as determining the total concentration. This is an important mat- 

 ter especially when taken into conjunction with the various combinations, 

 for it is probable that here as well as in water cultures the total concen- 

 tration has much to do in determining the optimum ratio or combination. 



The other two experiments were with crops and soil types with which 

 we have had little or no experience. One of these was set up on the farm 

 of L. J. Reed '13, at Clio, Mich., on a sandy loam, poor in fertility. The 

 crop was corn, and the piece of land about three acres in size. The other 

 experiment was on the farm of Ezra Levin, on a fine sandy soil. Here 

 about two acres were set aside for'the experiment and put into potatoes. 

 These experiments are all on a small scale and do not include the idea of 

 rotation of crops. As most farmers use the rotation system it seems very 

 necessary to incorporate this into 'our' general plans. Although most 

 farmers would hesitate to spend the time and money on'this problem under 

 present labor conditions, it was gratifying to learn how ready both Mr. 

 Reed and Mr. Levin were to cooperate. When such a plan of fertilizcn- 

 treatment as worked out by the above method is widely known and 

 established it is very probable that even then the" farmers will not have 

 time' to use the plan in detail. In view of this fact, it might be the best 

 thing for them to send the soil to the laboratory and there a study would 

 be made along the line of the above investigation. From the results, a 

 proper fertilizer treatment could be recommended to the farmer. 



To assist me in the routine work of carrying on the above experiments, 

 I have had with me for the year Mr. Gershberg, who has often put in 

 OA'ertime, has shown a zeal and earnestness in the work and has stayed 

 on when other positions have been offered to him. Much of the success at- 

 tained in these experiments is due to his hard work. I had often planned 

 more than could be done, Init we both worked hard and somehow or 

 other things were accomplished. 



STATE FUND WORK. 



Early in the year plans for enlarging and broadening the work of the 

 Experiment Station were outlined but on account of war conditions, 



