398 



Moisture of corn. — Dotorminntioiis are given of the percentage of dry 

 matter in corn (grain iuid cob) an(\ the nnuiber of pounds of ears 

 required for a bushel of shelled corn, in crops from six different locali- 

 ties in the State, and of the percentage of dry matter in corn and corn 

 stover from differently fertilized plats. 



Soil test experiments. — An experiment on seven farms in different parts 

 of the State. Each trial comprised 10 tenth-acre plats. Nitrate of soda 

 ICO pounds, muriate of potash 160 pounds, and dissolved bone black 

 320 pounds per acre, were used, singly on three plats, two by two on 

 three plats, and all three together on one plat ; plaster was used on one 

 plat and two remained unmanured. The details of the experiment on 

 each farm are tabulated. " In the majority of cases the largest yields 

 were obtained where complete fertilizers were used. As a rule, however, 

 the best financial returns were not secured from such mixtures." 



In four cases the results favored phosphoric acid ; in two, potash ; 

 and in one other, all three elements seemed to be needed. The results 

 were in several cases very marked, and corroborated those of trials made 

 in 1888 on the same plats. A tabulated statement of the "comparative 

 effects of phosphoric acid, potash, and nitrogen in ninety-six experi- 

 ments " is also given. 



Special nitrogen experiments. — The object of these experiments was to 

 " test the effects of nitrogenous fertilizers in diiferent amounts and 

 combinations upon the growth of the plant, and, inferentially, its 

 capacity to gather its nitrogen from natural sources." To applications 

 of potash and phosphoric acid, alone and together, nitrogen was added 

 in nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, and dried blood, and each of 

 tfiese in quantities furnishing one third (24 pounds), two thirds (48 

 pounds), and the full ration (72 pounds) required by the average crop 

 of corn per acre. The results of trials on three farms, one of which was 

 at the station, are tabulated. 



Nitrogen when nsed in large quantities has not paid for itself in the increase of 

 corn. In the experiment at Mansfield the yield with mixed minerals was only ahout 

 2 bushels less than where 24 pounds of nitrogen were added with the minerals. 

 Where the nitrogen was raised to 48 and 72 pounds, scarcely any additional increase 

 resulted. * * * Many plants readily utilize nitrogen supplied in fertilizers ; 

 others, when grown in rotation, get on very well if supplied with small quantities in 

 addition to that of the soil ; and still others gather large quantities from the air. 

 From our present knowledge, we must jilace the corn plant in the second of these 

 classes. Numerous experiments indicate that corn gets along very well and gives 

 fair returns when the fertilizers supplied contain one third to one half the nitrogen 

 removed by the crop. Only in very rare cases is the increase of corn proportionate 

 to the increase of nitrogen, and the consequent cost of the fertilizer. 



Effects of different fertilizees upon the composition 

 OF CORN, C. D. Woods, B. S. (pp. 127-178).— These studies of the 

 composition of corn and stover were made in connection with the field 

 experiments described above. Samples were taken from the differently 

 fertilized plats of the experiment of 1888 and 1889 and analyzed. The 



