208 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Because no suitable land was available at the college, the tests reported below 

 were carried forward at Holland with the kind and efficient cooperation of Mr. 

 J. A. Wilterdink and near Detroit, on the farm of Mr. C. McDonald. Both of these 

 gentlemen cared for the crop with great assiduity, allowing no weeds to grow and 

 keeping the cultivation up to a very high standard. The season was phenomenally 

 wet and the results are not what might have been expected under more normal 

 weather conditions. The arrangement of plots in both places and the fertilizers 

 applied to each are set forth in the following table: 



Plot 1 — No nitrogen, 200 lbs. phos^-hate, 100 lbs. potash. 



Plot 2—200 lbs. nitrates, 200 lbs. phosphates, 100 lbs. potash. 



Plot 3— Nothing. 



Plot 4—100 lbs. nitrates, 100 lbs. potash. 



Plot 5 — 100 lbs. nitrates, 200 lbs. phosphates, 100 lbs. potash.' 



Plot 6 — 100 lbs. nitrates, 400 lbs. phosphates, 100 lbs. potash. 



Plot 7 — Nothing. 



Plot 8 — 100 lbs. nitrates, 200 lbs. phosphates, no potash. 



Plot 9—100 lbs. nitrates, 200 lbs. phosphates, 200 lbs. potash. 



The amounts stated are given in pounds per acre The nitrate was in the form 

 of nitrate of soda, the potash was in the form of sulphate of potash (49.10% actual 

 potash), and the phosphate, a dissolved South Carolina rock (17% available phos- 

 phoric acid). The yields per acre of beets are stated in the following table. The 

 tare is taken out. 



Plot. Holland. Detroit. 



1 2.5,598 lbs. 30,550 lbs. 



2 34,282 lbs. 36,4?0 lbs. 



3 20.942 lbs. 29,320 lbs. 



4 24,888 lbs. 28,2.58 Ib.s. 



5 28.372 lbs. 35,980 lbs. 



6 28,948 lbs. 32,920 lbs. 



7 18,760 lbs. 28.320 lbs. 



8 27,270 lbs. 36,350 lbs. 



9 30,940 lbs. 35,740 lbs. 



Both series of plots show the benefit from each of the fertilizing elements. 

 The average of the nothing plots at Holland being 19,851 lbs., and at Detroit, 28,820 

 lbs., amounts much less than shown by any other plot in the series, except plot 4 

 at Detroit. 



At Holland the application of the nitrates increased the yield of plot 2 over 

 plot 1, and of plot 5 over plot 1, although plot 5 gave a less yield than plot 2, un- 

 doubtedly because it received 100 lbs. less of the nitrate of soda. The same state- 

 ment is true concerning the work at Detroit. Here also, plots 2 and 5 have a 

 larger yield than plot 1, and plot 2 has a larger yield than plot 5, plot 2 having 

 200 lbs of nitrate and plot 5, 100 lbs., and plot 1, none. 



Comparing next, plots 4, 5, and 6, to note the influence of the phosphoric acid, 

 the yield at Holland of plot 6 Is found to be greater than that of 5, and the yield 

 of the latter greater than that of 4, showing the need of phosphoric acid in that 

 soil to bring out a maximum crop. At Detroit both 5 and 6 yield more than 4, 

 but there is evidently not the need of phosphoric acid here that was shown in 

 Holland as the yield of plot 6 is less than that of 5. 



Potash was needed at Holland as shown by the yields of plot 8 with none, 5 

 with 100 lbs., and P with 200 lbs. per acre. The results do not point to any such 

 need in the rich soil at Detroit which had been farther strengthened by liberal 

 applications of manures in the years preceding this test. Even here, however, the 

 application of the commercial fertilizers paid in the increased yield. 



Bearing on the influence of fertilizers on the growth of beets, the following 

 table from series of experiments planned for another purpose will be of value. 

 A series of plots was laid out in 1896 to test the influence of the annual applica- 

 tion of certain fertilizers to the yields of crops in a fixed rotation. Beets was 

 one factor in that rotation. The plots had borne crops in years preceding as 

 follows: 



1889, oats; 1890, oats; 1891, oats; 1892, oats; 1893, oats; 1894, wheat; 1895. 

 clover; 1896, wheat; 1897. clover; 1898, clover. 



