1S82.] COMMERCIAL FERTIUZERS. 133 



alluded, and which were spoken of so contemptuously this 

 morning, were simply applications to parallel and contiguous 

 plots of ground of fertilizers each of which was distinguished 

 by the predominance of some element, and less of a single 

 element of the three which are considered necessary to enter 

 into a complete manure ; that is, phosphoric acid, potash, and 

 nitrogen. Get the three and apply them and see which does 

 best ; get combinations of the three in different forms and 

 apply them and see which does best; then you will know 

 something about it. I do not know any way by which I can 

 tell any man what to buy; it must be studied up by himself. 

 That I consider the great value of these experiments — they 

 give people some practical knowledge of the matter. No one 

 can try them for a few years without getting some idea which 

 will be of value to him in the conduct of his farm. I do 

 not know a person who has carried them on in a small way 

 who does not say that he has arrived at some facts which are 

 of practical value to him in his farm operations. I do not 

 say that we have got many conclusions yet, but a little 

 knowledge is better than dense ignorance. If we can see 

 a little light, it is better than walking in the dark all the 

 time. These experiments give us a little light, and we shall 

 get increased light as we go forward in the way they point 

 out. 



Mr. Webb. I was going to ask one question : what fertil- 

 izer has been manufactured or discovered superior to stable 

 manure for a crop of corn ? 



Mr. Hubbard. Not any; if you can get enough of it, 

 nothing on earth is superior. If Mr. Webb has got all the 

 stable manure he wants or can use on his farm, I would not 

 recommend him to buy anything; but if you have got to buy 

 stable manure, as I have to, you cannot afford to buy it for 

 corn. I can grow a good crop of corn with the application of 

 twelve dollars' worth of fertilizer to an acre. 



Mr. Webb. Would it not be wise policy for a farmer to 

 buy the constituents of a fertilizer and so combine them as 

 to make a fertilizer containing constituents as nearly con- 

 forming to the constituents of stable manure as possible ? 



