727 



June, 1880, was plowed under when the land was prepared for wheat 

 in September. 



Twenty-three tenth-acre plats were drilled to Deitz or Deitz Long- 

 berry wheat October 19, 1889, at the rate of six pecks of seed per acre. 

 The fertilizers used, which were applied Ai)ril 3, 1890, were dissolved 

 bone-black 350 pounds, dissolved South Carolina rock 3G5 pounds, 

 muriate of potash 150 pounds, and nitrate of soda 150 pounds or dried 

 blood IfeO pounds per acre, used singly on four plats, two by two on three 

 plats, and one form each of the nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilizers, 

 with muriate of potash as a "complete fertilizer," on three plats; 

 Thomas slag 340 pounds, Orchilla guano 365 pounds, sulphate of iron 50 

 pounds, kainit 512.5 pounds, castor pomace 3G2.5 pounds, and stable 

 manure 4,800 pounds per acre, applied on one plat each. Seven plats 

 received no manure. "A week after the application of the fertilizers 

 those plats which received nitrogen in the form of nitrate of soda 

 showed a decided change in color of foliage and a rapid growth. The 

 latter was observable throughout the season, and at time of harvest the 

 wheat on plat Xo. 21 [nitrate of soda, muriate of potash, and dissolved 

 South Carolina [rock was fully C inches taller, on au average, than the 

 crops of adjoining plats." 



The season was generally favorable and the crop was harvested June 

 20. The fertilizers applied and yields of wheat and straw per acre from 

 each plat are stated in a table. " The average crop was a poor one, 

 which is believed to be accounted for in part by the late seeding and 

 in part by the general condition of the land, this being its first year 

 with fertilizers." The yield on the 7 unfertilized plats ranged from 

 9.1 to 13.9, and averaged 12.2 bushels of grain per acre. The 3 plats 

 receiving "complete fertilizer" averaged nearly IS bushels, a gain of 

 5.75 bushels over the unfertilized plats. The plat receiving stable 

 manure at the rate of 4,800 pounds per acre produced less than the 

 average of the unmanured plats. The plat on which nitrate of soda, 

 muriate of potash, and dissolved South Carolina rock were applied 

 together yielded 5 bushels more per acre than the adjoining plat where 

 the nitrate was replaced by dried blood, and 6.8 bushels per acre more 

 than the plat where the South Carolina rock was replaced by dissolved 

 bone-black. "It is not to be believed that this diflerence was caused 

 by the fertilizer, but no satisfactory explanation can be offered. * * * 

 The four plats given i)hosphoric acid only produced less than any four 

 of the 'nothing' plats. Potash alone did no better. But wherever nitro- 

 gen was used there was a decided gain," except on one plat where 

 with nitrate of soda used alone the yield was only 9.6 bushels per acre. 



Although "more time must be allowed for the fertilizer to take effect 

 before satisfactory deductions can be obtained from this field," the fol- 

 lowing generalizations are made: "(1) The use of fertilizers somewhat 

 increased the crop; (2) the greatest increase was where nitrogen, phos- 

 phoric acid, and potash were applied in combination ; (3) the next best 



