136 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



biij nitrogen I did not want. Experiment has shown that to 

 many farmers in the State of ConnectiGut nitrogen is of no 

 value except in very small quantities to fertilize corn, and 

 having discovered that, knowing that it is so on my farm, I 

 Avill not buy it in large quantities. I believe that Prof. 

 Atwater's experiments have shown us more in that line, and 

 been of more advantage to us, than any experiments ever 

 made by Lawes and Gilbert in England, or by any other men 

 under Heaven, any where. • 



Mr. Webb. I want to ask the gentleman two questions. 

 One is, if he knows how much nitrogen he has on his farm 

 to feed the crops he is raising; and the second is, if he knows 

 anybody else who does. 



Mr. HiNMAN. I want to say this : that I used those ferti- 

 lizers in combination, and I used dried blood alone. I got 

 nothing whatever from it. 1 used kainit alone on corn, and 

 got nothing whatever from it ; and after using it long enough — 

 I don't propose to follow a thing thirty years with my finan- 

 cial condition as it is at present, and all the while be making 

 a loss — I think it is time for me to give it up. Four years is 

 about long enough for me to try an experiment of that kind. 

 When I put on dried blood alone, I got nothing; when I 

 put on kainit alone, I got nothing; when I put the three 

 in combination, phosphoric acid, potash, and dried blood, I 

 got my best crops. 



Mr, Webb. Why didn't you leave out the nitrogen ? 



Mr. IIiNMAN. I was going right on to explain that. Wliere 

 I put the three together, as I said, I got the best crops ; where 

 .1 put the three on alike, I did not get the best crops. I found 

 by those experiments, so far as experiments will show any- 

 thing, that to a certain extent I could profitably add nitrogen ; 

 after I got above a certain quantity, I did not get any benefit 

 from the extra amount. 1 would not put on any more than I 

 think I can get my pay for. I have not any children, and the 

 men that come after me can buy their own nitrogen. 



Mr. Backus. It seems to me that no farmer doubts the 

 value of barnyard manure ; the question is, however, after 



