754 



The (letermiuation of the composition is to be left to the experiment station 

 agreed upim Itetwecn seller and buyer. The sample for this purjjose is to be taken 

 and forwarded arionliiifj to rules whith are recited at length. 



Tliese regulations are to go into ettect at least by January 1, 1893. 



Co<Vl'EkATIVK KXI'EKIMEXTS WITH l-EinTLI/.KR.S AND TEST OK VARIETIES AT BOR.S- 



liKKE, NEAR Ai.osT, Hei.gum, IN 1891, P. 1>K VfYST (pp. 15). — The experiiui'iits here 

 reported were carried out on rrpresi-ntative soils of the swanijiy region of Flanders, 

 and imUided experiments with fertilizers, tests of varieties, and eomparis(m of 

 methods of culture on meadow grasses, ])otatoes, beets, and turnips. The results 

 reported are in most cases means of results on triplicate jjlats, which the author 

 states were sufficiently concordant to jiennit «»f ouidusions being drawn as to the 

 method of culture, the kiuil of fertilizer, and the variety whi<h is most likely to 

 succeed in the locality iii riuestiou. Hrief outlines of the experiments with ferti- 

 lizers and methods of culture are given below: 



(1) Expcriiniiitx iiilli vundoir ijrunsvH. — These were for the purpose of comparing the 

 effects of nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia, which were applied in quanti- 

 ties sujiplying '2'1.2'^ jumhhIs of nitrogen per acre. Nitrate of soda gave a profitable 

 return, while sulphate of ammonia was a]iplied at a loss. The author states, how- 

 ever, that it must be remi-mbered in connection with this experiment, as well as with 

 others which follow, that the action of sul]ihate of ammonia and nitrate of soda 

 depeiuls largely upon the season. 



(2) KxjK limciitH with pntatoex. — The fertilizers used in this case Were nitrat«of soda, 

 siiljdiate of ammonia, piirin. suiieridiosphate of lime, Thonias slag, carbonate of ]>ot- 

 asli, kaiuit, and farm uiauiire ( siipideincntary ), and were a]i]died two by two and all 

 thiee together on 11 plats containing |{5.."> scpian- yards which had jtieviously n-ceivcil 

 an a\erageaitplication of 2l','_'i»7.'J poundsof farm manure |>eracre. The fertilizers were 

 a]i|died at a uniform ilepth 1.78-.">.S5 inches, except that purin and nitrate- of soda in 

 (me case each were applied on the surface aftcc the second plowing, and a mixture 

 of nitrate of .soda and superphosphate used on one plat was ph)wed in to a depth of 

 25 cm. As the nutritive value of ]>otatoes depends entirely upon the dry matter, in 

 which standi is the jtredoininant element, this substance w.is determined by means 

 of a hydrostatic- balance, in samples from each of the plats, and the tiuancial returns 

 calculateil upon the basis of yield of starch as well as upon the total yield of tubt^r.s. 

 The higln'st returns were received from the use of suljdiate of ammonia. Nitrates 

 and purin also gave favorable results, while barnyard manure wa« not remunera- 

 tive. The superphosj)hat<' was also benelicial, but Thomas slag showed little effe«"t. 

 Carbonate of potash was not iirotitaVde. Kainit increased the yield at the exjiense 

 of starch content. 



The results of tests of methods of culture were as follows: (1) Close ]>lanting 

 gave the higliest yield; (2) when half tubers cut through their greatest diameter 

 were u.-^ed for seed it made no ditVerence whether tln' cut surface was turned up or 

 down; (3) if the tubers wer»- cut through their smallest diameter, the stem ends (/«'/c«) 

 gave the higliest yield; (4) ridge culture showed no advantage over flat culture. 



(3) jh'xjttrimeiits with beets.— 'Iho i)reparation of the plats an«l the apjilication of 

 fertilizers were practically the same as in the preceding experiment. I)ut all the ferti- 

 lizers were applied at a depth of from 4.78-5.85 inches, except in one ca.se in which the 

 nitrate of soda was applied at the surface. Nitrate <if .soda gave better results than 

 sulphate of ammonia, and was n'munerative both in large anil small apjdicatious. 

 Siiiterphosphates also proved better than the Thomas slag. Potash in the form of 

 kainit increased the productix eness but reduced the sugar content. The results of 

 this experinunt, as well as of the preceding, indicate that the best depth for apply- 

 ing nitrate of soda is 4.7H-5.K5 inches. The author reconimencis as a fertilizer for 

 beets a mixture of nitrate of soda, Milphat<- of ammonia, and superphos]>hate in the 

 proportion of 0.9 nitrate of soda, 0.675 sulj>hate of ammonia^ and 1.5 of euperphos- 

 phate, * 



