REPORT OF THE CHEMIST OF THE EXPERI- 

 MENT STATION FOR 1888-89. 



Hon. Oscar Glute, Director of the Experiment Station: 



Sir — In presenting my annual report as Chemist of the Experiment 

 Station, the work performed and the results reached will be set forth under 

 the following heads : 



I. — THE EXPERIMENTAL FARM AT GRAYLING. 



This farm of 80 acres in Crawford county is in the heart of what is called 

 the Pine Barrens, and is a fair representative of the light, sandy soils of the 

 State where the principal forest growth is jack pine (Pinus Banksiana) and 

 popularly known as Jack Pine Plains. Along with the jack pine there are 

 found scattering trees of Norway pine, shrubs of scarlet oak, red maple, 

 dwarf huckleberry and sand cherry, sweet fern, brakes, and many kinds of 

 bunch grass. The soil is a yellow to brown sand, having little cohesion and 

 small retentive power. Chemical analysis shows the presence of 94 per cent 

 of sand and insoluble silicates, and only 2 per cent of organic matter. The 

 repeated fires that have swept over these plains explain the deficiency in 

 organic matter in these soils, and afford a reason for the kind of forest 

 growth most common on these plains. 



When the land is plowed, after clearing off the trees and shrubs, the soil 

 is usually found too open and porous to sustain crops ; the rain sinks too 

 rapidly, the capillary power of the soil to bring up moisture from beneath is 

 too feeble, and the root contact with the soil by the plant too imperfect to 

 secure satisfactory growth. 



The two conditions to be secured at the very outset after " breaking the 

 ground," is to increase the amount of vegetable matter in the soil, and to 

 secure a good seed bed by compacting the loose sand. For these purposes 

 three measures have been adopted: (1) To keep out the fires that burn up 

 the annual accumulation on the ground of leaves and vegetable materials 

 and even destroy a part of the organic matter in the soil ; (2) to raise on the 

 ground plants that will afford the largest amount of organic matter, to be 

 plowed under as green manure, and thus rapidly increase the organic matter 

 in the soil, and available material for the growth of succeeding crops ; (3) the 

 free and repeated use of the harrow and roller to compact the soil. 



The changes that have been effected in two seasons' growth by these 

 agencies are evident to any one who will examine these experimental fields. 

 The darker color of the soil, its greater firmness and the increased growth 

 of crops all bear witness to a favorable change. 



