210 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



error, or the soil experiineuted -svitli coiitiiined a sufSciency of potash 

 and did not therefore respond to ai)plications of potassic fertilizers. 



Experiments with jdiosphatic fertilizers for sugar beets grown in 

 marsh soil were begun in 1894, Thomas slag and superphosphate being 

 compared. The former produced a heavier yield of sugar than the 

 latter. The experiments were relocated on a larger scale during 1S95, 

 and in 3 different series, as in case of the potash experiments already 

 described. Applications of nitrogen and potash were added in all cases 

 at the rate per acre of 178.2 lbs. of potash (as sulphate), and 21.3 lbs. 

 of nitrogen (as nitrate of soda); m addition the quantities of fertilizers 

 given in the table were applied. The results were as follows: 



Phosphoric acid experiments tvith sugar beets. 



No. of 

 trials. 



PliosplKiric acid (PjOs) applied per hectare. 



Zinc boxes, 0.3 square meter surface, G beets : 



75 to 100 kg. as superphosphate 



150 to 200 kg. as Thomas slag 



Glass cyliuders, 572 sq. cm. surface, 1 beet in each : 



None 



50 to 100 kg. as superphosphate , 



100 to 200 kg. as Thomas slag 



Cemeiitliued boxes, 1 square meter surface, 25 beets: 



None 



50 to 100 kg. as superphosphate 



100 to 200 kg. as Thomas slag 



Zinc boxes, 0.3 square meter surface, 6 beets in each: 



None 



50 to 100 kg. as superphosphate 



100 to 200 kg. as Thomas slag 



Average 



weight of 



beets. 



Grams. 

 3,989 

 3,692 



2,667 

 3,298 

 3 348 



4,925 

 6,582 

 6,542 



2,014 

 2,978 

 2,724 



Sugar content of 

 beets. 



Per cent. 

 13.80 

 15.30 



14.92 

 14.99 

 15.28 



12.92 

 13.99 

 14.66 



15.78 

 13.44 

 15.53 



Grnms. 

 550. 5 

 564.9 



397.9 

 494.4 

 511.5 



636. 3 

 920.6 

 959.2 



317.8 

 400.1 

 423.0 



The Thomas slag produced beets uniformly richer in sugar and a 

 heavier yield of sugar than the superphosphate. The author states 

 that experiments have shown the following fertilizer to be required for 

 marshy soils in order to produce beets of equally good quality as those 

 grown on stiff soils, viz, 300 kg. potash (KoO) per hectare (in the form 

 of 600 kg. (1,320 lbs.) of SO per cent muriate of potash), and 150 kg. 

 phosphoric acid (P^O.^) per hectare (in the form of 900 kg. (1,980 lbs.) 

 of Thomas slag of a high citrate solubility), the quantities given cor- 

 responding to 267.3 lbs. of K2O and 133.7 lbs. of P2O.-, per acre. 



Experiments with Imperial barley. — Barley growE in a rich humus soil 

 in laboratory experiments was found to vary considerably in its protein 

 content under the influence of different fertilizers, and the subject was 

 therefore taken up for systematic study according to a plan similar to 

 that followed in the preceding trials. Two series of ])hosphoric acid 

 experiments and one series of ijotash experiments were conducted. 



