FIELD CROPS. 231 



Botanical analysis of the herbaitre of various plats showed that grasses were 

 predoroinant on the check plat and formed the lowest proportions of the herbage 

 on the plats fertilized with (1) superphosphate and sulphate of potash, and (2) 

 nitrate of soda, superphosphate and sulphate of potash. Weeds showed the 

 highest and lowest relative frequency on (1) nitrate of soda, and (2) super- 

 phosphate and sulphate of potash plats, respectively, while clovers were least 

 frequent, relatively, on the nitrate of soda plats and most frequent on the super- 

 phosphate and sulphate of potash plat. 



The greatest proportionate crop increases as compared with the check plat 

 yields were secured from plats fertilized with (1) complete commercial fer- 

 tilizer and farmyard manure, and (2) complete commercial fertilizer. By the 

 end of the first 4-year period of the test the dressing of farmyard manure ap- 

 peared to have been practically exhausted. Nitrate of soda alone or in combina- 

 tion with sulphate of potash failed to give commensurate return on this soil, 

 the principal requirement of which appeared to be phosphates. 



In a test of 4 fertilizers or fertilizer mixtures on meadow land during 1909- 

 10 the highest average yield followed applications of (1) superphosphate and 

 lime nitrate, and (2) potassic superphosphate. In a test of 6 kinds of grass 

 seeds or grass-seed mixtures, the highest average 3-year yields followed the use 

 of mixtures of (1) Italian rye grass, perennial rye grass, red clover, cow grass, 

 white clover, and alsike, and (2) Italian rye grass, red clover, alsike, and 

 trefoil. 



In a test of 8 different fertilizers, an application of 550 lbs. of superphosphate 

 produced 1 bu. more barley in 1910 than did 4 cwt. of potassic superphosphate, 

 at the same expense. During the 2 years 1909 and 1910, applications of 4 cwt. 

 of potassic superphosphate with 84 lbs. sulphate of ammonia, 130 lbs. nitrate of 

 lime, or 112 lbs. nitrate of soda, supplying the same amounts of nitrogen, were 

 followed by average barley yields of 53J, 52, and 49i bu. per acre respectively, 

 but the highest values of produce are reported in connection with the nitrate of 

 soda mixture. In value the yields of these applications were surpassed by the 

 use of mixtures of kainit, superphosphate, and sulphate of ammonia. 



In a test of 4 rates of seeding oats ranging from 160 to 280 lbs. per acre, the 

 yield of grain was highest after the heaviest seeding but the net return was 

 greatest after sowing at the rate of 200 lbs. per acre. 



In a test of 18 fertilizers or fertilizer mixtures for mangels, the greatest 

 average 4-year increases in yield followed the use of (1) 3 cwt. nitrate of soda 

 and 1 cwt. of superphosphate, and (2) 2 cwt, nitrate of soda and 2 cwt. super- 

 phosphate. From the use of 6 cwt. potassic superphosphate, 8 cwt. basic slag, 

 and 7f cwt. supei^hosphate, at approximately the same cost per acre and each 

 in conjunction with 15 tons of farmyard manure, the average 3-year yields of 

 mangles secured were 36 tons 13 cwt., 38 tons 12 cwt, and 37 tons 16 cwt., re- 

 spectively. 



In a test of nitrogenous fertilizer mixtures, the highest yields of swedes fol- 

 lowed the use of 140 lbs. nitrate of soda or 1501 lbs. nitrate of lime, each sup- 

 plemented by 3 cwt. superphosphate, 4 cwt. steamed bones, and 2 cwt. kainit. 

 Almost 22 tons of swedes per acre were obtained from plats treated with (1) 

 397 lbs. potassic superphosphate, 4 cwt. steamed bones, and 1 cwt. sulphate of 

 ammonia, and (2) 3 cwt. supei'phosphate, 2 cwt. kainit, 4 cwt. steamed bones, 

 and 1 cwt. sulphate of ammonia. The cost of fertilizer per ton of swedes was 

 11| d. in case of the former mixture and Hi d. in case of the latter. In a test 

 of phosphorus sources a slightly greater yield followed the use of 407 lbs. of 

 bone meal than that of 468 lbs. of dissolved bones. A superphosphate plat ex- 

 celled a basic slag plat in yield during 1909 and again in 1910. 



