820 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



In comparative tests of stable manure, a complete fertilizer, and a half and 

 half mixture of the two, on different soils with different crops the best results 

 generally were obtained with the complete fertilizer, followed closely by the half 

 and half mixture. In comparative tests of sodium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, 

 lime nitrogen, and calcium nitrate on alluvial, sand, and clay soils sodium 

 nitrate and ammonium sulphate were apparently on the average about equally 

 as good sources of nitrogen for potatoes, and were followed in order by calcium 

 nitrate and lime nitrogen. Sodium nitrate was on the average the best for 

 grains and sugar beets, followed in order by ammonium sulphate, lime nitrogen, 

 and calcium nitrate. Ammonium sulphate was better than sodium nitrate for 

 potatoes on sandy and alluvial soils, as was also calcium nitrate on sandy soil.s. 

 Further tests of sodium nitrate and ammonium sulphate showed tlie former to 

 be generally better for potatoes and the latter better for oats and rye, although 

 the differences were on the average small. Castor-bean meal was not as desir- 

 able for potatoes, oats, and rye as were sodium nitrate and ammonium sulphate. 



Potash fertilizers were, on the whole, used with profit on clay soil for pota- 

 toes, particularly when applied by means of a seeder or planter. In experiments 

 to determine the best manner of potash fertilization on sand and peat soils 

 equally good results were obtained with kainit and a patented artificial potash 

 fertilizer as regards crop yield when applied in the spring or in the fall. The 

 quality of potatoes was poorer, however, in some cases where kainit was applied 

 in the spring. Both fertilizers were used with profit on clay soil with potatoes 

 and sugar beets, and the favorable effects on the avei*age increased with the 

 application to a certain limit. In further experiments with potatoes and grain 

 there was little difference in the results obtained with the two types of potash 

 fertilizers, each being used with some benefit. The experiments as a whole Indi- 

 cate that kainit may be used with some benefit for potatoes and gi'ain on peat 

 soils, even when applied in the spring shortly before planting. 



Tests of a potassium silicate containing 25 per cent clay. 50 per cent silica, 8 

 per cent sodium, and to 10 per cent potash, using kainit, potassium chlorid, 

 and a patented artificial potash fertilizer for comparison, showed that although 

 the yield of potatoes was increased the potash of the potassium silicate was 

 much less available than that of the other potash fertilizers. 



Six years' tests of slag meal, sui>eiT>hosphate, bone meal, and Algerian phos- 

 phate on a new alluvial soil indicated that the superphosphate was the most 

 desirable for oats, slag meal for rye, and bone meal and Algerian phosphate for 

 potatoes. Two 3'ears' tests on a sand soil of superphosphate, agi-icultural phos- 

 phate, Bernard phosphate, and slag meal favored the superphosphate for pota- 

 toes and oats, while the two new pho.sphorus fertilizers were better for oats and 

 l>oorer for iwtatoes than the slag meal. A comparison of slag meal and Bernard 

 phosphate showed the former to be the more favorable for lye. Two years' tests 

 on sand soil of slag meal, agricultural phosphate, bone meal, and superphos- 

 phate showed the superphosphate to be the least favorable for peas and beets, 

 slag meal the most favorable for peas, and bone meal the most favorable for 

 beets. Slag meal was the most favorable for potatoes on sand soil and super- 

 phosphate the least favorable. 



On a heavy clay soil 8 years' liming experiments, using crushed limestone, 

 mai*l, and burnt lime, gave favorable results with sugar beets, potatoes, oats, 

 clover, mangel-wurzels, and onions. 



Fertilizer experiments, M. Van Den Burgt et al. (Verslag Rijkstuinhovtc- 

 proefveJden Zuid-QchJerIa7td en Utrecht, WIS, pp. l-J/O). — Cooperative fertilizer 

 experiments with different crops on farms in various parts of Holland are 

 briefly reported. 



