12G 



■with a quantity so small that it may be thoroughly mixed, after which experiments 

 upon it may be conducted in pots or boxes, or in plats of very small size in the field, 

 made by removing the surface soil to a uniform depth, mixing it thoroughly, and re- 

 turning it to the original situation. 



The objections to this method of experiment aie, that it involves the placing of the 

 soil under abnormal conditions as to heat and drainage, if boxes or pots are used, 

 and the dealing with such a limited number of plants in any case that the idiosyn- 

 crasies of individual plants, or the errors liable to arise from calculating acre yields 

 from yields of single plants, or small numbers of plants, are liable to be very mis- 

 leading. As one of several co-ordinate methods of investigation, however, in which 

 the results of one method are used to verify those of another, the culture of plants 

 in pots or boxes must hold an important place. 



In the spring of 1888 two series of boxes, each 18 inches square by 

 12 inches deep, were filled, one series with clean sand from the beach 

 of Lake Erie, the other with mixed soil from the station's experimental 

 field, and planted with selected grains of corn. Uniform drainage was 

 secured for the boxes, and around them corn of the same variety was 

 planted in the open ground to iusui e fertilization of the ears. At plant- 

 ing time and at intervals afterward dissolved bone-black, muriate of 

 potash, and nitrate of soda were applied to the soil of the different 

 boxes, singly and in various combinations, and also barn-yard manure 

 and linseed-oil meal. The plan followed in the use of fertilizers and 

 also the appearance of the plants at maturity are illustrated pictorially 

 by plates. The plants grown in sand reached proximate maturity only in 

 those boxes which received nitrate and superphosphate, or nitrate, 

 superphosphate, and potash. In the other series all plants grew to 

 about the same height and produced grain in the proportion in which 

 nitrogen had been added. In the following fall (188S) wheat was sown 

 in these boxes and fertilizers applied as before. The results, also shown 

 in plates, serve to demonstrate " the futility of using for wheat a fer- 

 tilizer containing no nitrogen, as well as the inadequacy of nitrogen 

 when not aided by phosphoric acid." Similar experiments were con- 

 ducted in 1889 with German millet, with like results, except that barn- 

 yard manure showed a marked superiority. To encourage this method 

 of investigation among farmers the station offers to furnish free the 

 necessary fertilizers, with instruction for their use. 



We have two objects in view in illustrating these box experiments: the first is to 

 add their testimony to that of the field experiments previously described, anil the 

 second is to suggest to farmers a very simple method of ascertaining the needs of 

 their soils ; a method within the reach of every farmer or farmer's boy ; one more re- 

 liable than the most elaborate chemical analysis ; more reliable, even, than an actual 

 Held test, under ordinary circumstances. 



To make this test, simple pine boxes will be found most convenient. We have 

 found the size mentioned, namely, 18 inches square by 12 inches deep, to be well 

 suited for the small grains: for corn, however, we recommend field experiments, as 

 it is not practicable to use boxes large enough to give proper root space to more than 

 one or two plants, and there is such a great difference in the individuality of difi'er- 

 ent plants of corn that experiments on single plants are liable to be misleading. 



Believing that valuable suggestions respecting the needs of various soils may be 



