234 . STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



FERTILIZER ON BEST VARIETIES— CASS COUNTY. 



These results are iii line with those obtained by Dr. Hopkins by means 

 of a questionnaire sent to workers in different countries. 



A. D. Hall, Director of the Rothamsted Experiment Station, Harpen- 

 den, England, states that ''The direct factor for increase of wheat at the 

 Rothamsted Experiment Station has been the introduction of fertilizers 

 and purchaised feeding .stuffs. Improved seed does not count for very 

 inu^. We still grow a good many varieties that were known years ago 

 aufrxhey are still among the good if not the best yielders. I should not 

 put down more than 10% of the increase to the new va,rieties." 



von Seelhorst states ''Iri some cases the yield has been increased two 

 and one-half to three fold. In general I assume that of the 100% in- 

 crease in tJie yield 50% can be attributed to artiflcial fertilisers, and to 

 the use of better seed 15%. The remainder can be attributed to better 

 crop rotation and tillage operations." 



Schneidewind of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Halle, A. S., 

 Grerman}^, states, "The greatly increased yields which we are now pro- 

 ducing in Germany, of our different grain crops, are dependent upon all 

 of the four factors you have named. Of these factors, however, the use 

 of fertilizers takes first rank very decidedly in increasing the crop yields." 



The Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of France, Paris, states 

 that, the value of approximate figures representing, as near as can be de- 

 termined, the relative importance of the different factors in increased 

 production is as follows : 



Farm Manure and commercial fertilizers 50% 



Better preparation of land 30% 



Selection of seed and innproved varieties 15 to 20% 



G-erlach of Bromberg, Gemiany, states that according to his views 

 each of the four factors set'foi-th has had an essential part in 

 effecting the total increase in yield. He attributes the largest share to 

 the influence of systematically selected hig-her yielding varieties. The 

 extension and discriminating use of artificial fertilizer has likewise 

 contributed to the increase in yield. 



Wagner of Darmstadt, Germany, states, "It is difficult to say which 

 factors have contributed most to increase the yields. If one surveys the 

 last 40 years, it can be well said that the increased yield of the first 20 

 years was produced especially by the use of fertilizers, but during the 

 last 20 years we recognize also the influence of other factors, which in 

 connection with the ever increasing use of artificial fertilizers have 

 resulted in raising year by year the average crop yields." 



The investigations on muck soils have been very satisfactory. The 

 chief features of this work are, as reported by Dr. Paul M. Harmer, given 

 below. 



