DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 75 



it will prove to be fimdameiital as a method of approach in the solution 

 of the more intricate phases of these basic agi'icnltnral problems. 



Use of Fertilizers: Some excellent demonstrations in the use of fer- 

 tilizers have been made this year. Particnlarly is this true of the use 

 of phosphoric acid on soils deficient in this element. In several demon- 

 strations on wheat the crop was increased .from 100% to 300% by the 

 use of about 200 pounds of ])hosphoric acid per acre. Demonstrations in 

 the use of phosphoric acid on oats at the rate of 200-o"l>0 pounds per acre 

 showed an increase of from 40% to 300% in the crop. On corn the use 

 of fertilizer also gave good returns on the investment. 



In some counties vetch is grown extensively and a hn-ge ]»art of the 

 crop used for green manuring. On one demonstration of the value of 

 .vetch used as a green manure crop the yield of corn was doubled. 



Some very valuable results have also l)een obtained from the use of 

 muck on light soils and in one instance reported the muck gave better 

 i-eturns than the same amoiuit of stable maniire. 



The chief value of these demonstrations lay in the fact that meetings 

 were held at these farms so that the farmers could see exactly what had 

 been accomjilished and I)y what methods. In this manner the better 

 practices are being gradually spread. 



Correcting Aciditij: Demonstrations in the case of lime and marl have 

 been increased and more widely distributed. The results of these dem- 

 onstrations have been so pronounced as to convince even the most skep- 

 tical of their value. The reports of the agents show that the application 

 of lime or marl in sufficient quantities has fre(iuently given an increase 

 in yields of alfalfa of from 50 to 75 per cent. By means of meetings held 

 at such demonstrations these results have been made known to the farm- 

 ers. There was a large increase in the use of lime during 1915; for that 

 period the agents reported 13,G87 tons used, as compared with 8,000 tons 

 in 1014. They also report that Gl marl beds were located and developed. 



In several counties the Farm Bureaus have purchased the apparatus 

 for testing soils for lime requirements, recommended by the Experiment 

 Station Chemist. By the use of this and the litmus test a large number 

 of samples of soils has been tested for farmers preparing to grow leg- 

 umes and particularly alfalfa, One agent reports testing 177 samples in 

 two consecutive months. 



Drainage: In six counties drainage demonstrations have been made 

 leading projects this year. As the growing season last year and the 

 early part of this was exceptionally wet it afforded a strong stimulus to 

 farmers having lands insufficiently drained to give more than the usual 

 amount of attention to their drainage problems. As a result the drain- 

 age demonstrations have been carefully watclied by the farmers and 

 many of them have begun to provide better drainage for their farms. 



FARM CROPS. 



The organizations that are being formed serve several purposes with 

 reference to crops. Through these organizations jiedigreed varieties are 

 being introduced on a much larger scale and on a community basis. 

 These members meeting together help one another solve their problems 

 of production and distribution. It not only means better and more 

 economical production but really prepares the way for successful mar- 



