34G 



which the injury was deemed suflieieiit U) impair the validity of the 

 results were very few. 



The total yields in the successful trials, es]»e(M;iIly where fertilizers 

 were used, were for the most i)art lar<;:er than are usually obtaint'd in 

 fiehl practice, eveu with the best treatment — a circumstance easily 

 explained by the natural richness of the soil, the abundant water sui>i)ly 

 and nianurinfi-, the careful selection (»f sc^'d. and thorough <-iiltiv;ition. 



Since the results are of less conse(jueuce for the purposes of this 

 abstract than the method, they mny l)e re(;i]»itu]:ited very briefly: 



(1) The effect of the jihosphates ;ind ]»otash sjijts ui»on the total yield, 

 the i>roi>ortions of tin* diHereut i»arts, and the «'heniical eoiii]iositioii of 

 theplsiutsjwasnot especially marked, except that in the experiments with 

 oats, es])ecially the first season, the total yield was somewhat larjrer 

 with tliese fertilizers than without them. It was evident that the soil, 

 althouj^h it had been croj>ped for several years without manure, con- 

 tained a considerable su]>ply of available phos])horic acid anil potash.* 



(2) With nitrate of soda, however, the total yi<'l<l <>f tln' barley, oats, 

 and whciit was coiisideialily increased, thoujrh the ratio of irniin to st;ilk 

 was uot materially atlected. The total yield of i)eas, on the cttlier h;ind. 

 w;is not notably increased, while the rati«» of tlie seed to tin- tot;il 

 weight (»f the i>lant w;is less an<l the i>ro]>ortion of st<'m ;ind leaf was 

 j^Mcatei- with the nitrate of soda than without it. Tlie soil sujiply of 

 nitro^M-n e\i(leiitly did not suttice for full jrrowth of the ccri-alsand Ilicy 

 resjtoiided to the iiitro.^eii of tlu' fertilizer. The ]>eas. however, refused 

 as usual to icspund to nitro^icn. that is to say, the total pr(»duct was not 

 increased, thouj;h tiiere was a tendency to increase «>f stem and leaf and 

 decrease <»f seed. Tin* i)rincipal eHe«'t of tin* fertiliz«'r seenn'd to be in 

 cansinji' development of the ve^retative rather than the reproductive 

 organs. 



{'.i) The increase of yield of the ccicals with nitiati' of soda was most 

 marked with tlie barley and hast with the wheat, as apjiears from the 

 following; tabnlai' statement: 



Tield {iceight of prodmr) irilh iiitralc of soda, thr yield wilhoul mdinin hiiinj tnkrit ns K"-. 



Average of three nraione. 



Cereal. 



Grain. 



Wheat 

 Oats... 

 Barley 



13K.9 

 13.x 1 

 163.0 



Straw. 



137. .T 

 144). 2 

 157.3 



|>hiiii 

 144. :< 



150.8 



* The neccssityofiivoiilinfioxcfssofavailalilo plant food i n soils in whirlioxpi'iiincii Is 

 on the action of fertilizers are to lie made, is here illnsf rated. Even soils supposed 

 to l)e well '' worn out" often have large supplies of the very suhstanees the artinn 

 of which in the fertilizers is to he tested. In son>e of the Cernian stations a rejiiilar 

 system is adojited for itn-jtarinjj soils for siicli ex])erinii'nt8 by growing ptantti upon 

 them without manure for several successive scasous. 



