MICHIGAN LIVE STOCK IN 1899 419 



this investment profitable from the start. It is too slow. What was 

 needed was something quick, and commercial fertilizer did the business. 



A THRESHING TEST. 



Hon. A, C. Bird, at present secretary of our State Agricultural Col- 

 lege, used fertilizer as an experiment on wheat on his farm in Oakland 

 county. The analysis of this fertilizer w^as 2 to 3 per cent ammonia, 10 to 

 12 per cent phosphoric acid, and 2 to 3 per cent actual potash. The fertil- 

 izer was applied on one side of a large field and at the averate rate of 

 about 200 pounds per acre. The wheat was kept separate from the rest 

 and yielded at the rate of 39 bushels per acre. That "portion of the field 

 not fertilized yielded 32 bushels, giving 6^ bushels in favor of the fertil- 

 izer. The retail price of the fertilizer to the farmer was |22.00 per ton, 

 or |2.20 per acre. The price of wheat at Highland the day Mr. Bird 

 threshed was 65 cents per bushel, and the 6i bushels would therefore be 

 worth .f 4.22|. Deducting the cost of the fertilizer per acre, |2.20, leaves 

 a profit of |2.02^, provided no charge is made for applying the fertilizer. 

 This would give 92 per cent interest on the |2.20 invested in fertilizer. 



The writer had the opportunity of seeing this field of wheat just before 

 harvest, and it is safe to say that the casual observer would never have 

 detected that a portion of the field was fertilized. The effect on this soil 

 was unlike that on the heavier soil of Ottawa county. There was no 

 extra length of straw, but on close inspection the heads seemed to be 

 heavier and better filled — they bent over a little more. This experiment 

 leads the writer to believe that in some instances, at least, fertilizer has 

 been declared unprofitable when it probably was profitable. On such 

 soil and a like season only the threshing test can decide. 



FERTILIZERS ON FRUIT. 



As yet fertilizers have not been used extensively in Michigan on fruit. 

 Fruit trees are of a comparatively slow growth and their roots, extending 

 deep down into the soil, have a broad pasturage. Hence, on good soil, 

 it is a number of years before the need of extra plant food is manifest. 

 Many of our best fruit growers, however, have had profitable results 

 from their use. Among others may be mentioned Mr. Roland Morrill of 

 Benton Harbor, Hon. Robt. Graham of (31 rand Rapids, and C. F. Hale of 

 Shelby, as having had satisfactory results from the use of fertilizer on 

 peaches, the quality being greatly improved. 



Mr. Homer Hayes of Tallmadge and B. F. Pixley of St. Joseph have 

 had very flattering results from the applications of commercial fertiliz- 

 ers on Niagara grapes. Some definite data are at hand from Mr. Pixley. 

 He planted two-thirds of an acre of Niagara grapes on rather light, 

 sandy soil. When these vines came to bearing the fruit would fall off 

 before it was thoroughly ripe. Mr. Pixley wrote the nursery from whom 

 he obtained the trees and they advised him to use phosphoric acid and 

 potash in liberal quantities. He did so, and the results have been most 

 gratifying. The vineyard responded from the first application, and the 

 fruit has increased in quantity and greatly improved in quality. Last 

 year, 1898, Mr. Pixley marketed from his two-thirds of an acre 14,000 

 pounds of grapes, and the quality was such that they very readily sold in 

 the Chicago market for |1.00 per crate of six four-pound baskets. The 



