580 EXPERIMENT STATION KECORD. 



"The results of the experiments have shown in 1895 even more conclusively than 

 in 1894 that applications of soda without potash have been upon our soil far less 

 beneficial than applications of potash without soda. The indications of this season's 

 results, like those of 1894, are to the effect that increasing quantities of potash when 

 ai>plied in connection with a given amount of soda show a greater benefit than 

 increasing quantities of soda applied in connection with a given amount of potash. 

 In the case of niangel-wurzels and lettuce a slightly greater advantage seems to have 

 been derived from the use of the carbonates of potash and of soda than from the 

 chlorids of the same, a difference which there is every reason to believe would have 

 been much greater had the api>lications of potash and soda been largely increased. 

 Air-slacked lime, as has been observed in other experiments, has had a wonderfully 

 beneficial effect in connection with certain plants, which has been attributed by us 

 not only to its direct fertilizing action, but also largely to its having overcome the 

 acidity of the soil, or to its having effected the decomposition of constituents of the 

 same which exerted an injurious influence upon the growth of certain plants. . . . 



"In the experiment with sodium salts a trial was made of the relative efl^ectiveness 

 of chlorids of potassium and sodium, and of the carbonates of the same. Since 

 nitrate of sod.i is an ingredient of most commercial fertilizers, and because special 

 claims have been made for the fertilizing value of the soda which it contained, it has 

 been thought desirable to compare its action with that of nitrate of potash. In order 

 to do this upon a jiroper basis, it was necessary to use an amount of nitrate of soda 

 which would furnish an amount of nitrogen exactly equal to that contained in the 

 nitrate of potash, and also to use a quantity of potash in connection with the nitrate 

 of soda which would be identical with that contained in the nitrate of jiotash. As a 

 source of potash for this purpose the muriate of potash was employed. The experi- 

 ment was also 80 arranged that comparisons as above mentioned could be made upon 

 unlimed jdats, upon those which had received laud plaster (gypsum) and air-slacked 

 lime." 



The results of these experiments (ou beets) are tabulated, but are 

 inconclusive. The experiments are to be continued. 



Further observations upon the groTvth of various plants upon 

 an upland acid soil before and after liming, H. J. Wheeler and 

 G. M. Tucker {Rhode Island Sta. Rpt. 1895, pp. 205-214, ph. 3).— 

 These observations were in continuation of those recorded in the Annual 

 Eeports of the station for 1893 and 1894 (E. S. K., 7, pp. 377 and 850). 



"Some modifications of the previous manuring were made in 1895, as follows: 

 Owing to the known deficiency of phosphoric acid in this soil, the amount of dis- 

 solved boneblack was increased from GOO to 800 lbs. per acre; the amount of muriate 

 of potash was increased from 180 to 350 lbs. per acre; the amount of nitrate of soda 

 remained the same as in 1894, while the quantity of ammonium sulphate, which 

 varied slightly in composition from that previously used, was so modified that the 

 amount of nitrogen furnished by it would be identical with that applied in the 

 nitrate of soda." 



The 2 limed plats of the series received 5,400 lbs. per acre of lime in 

 1893 and 1,000 lbs. in 1894, but no further application in 1895. 



"In 1895 sulphate of magnesia (epsom salts) was applied to all at the rate of 200 

 lbs. per acre. This was done for the reason that previously Ijetter results were ob- 

 tained from the limed plat which received nitrate of soda than from the other limed 

 plat, which received sulphate of ammonia— differences which might have in part 

 been attributed to the liberation of magnesia by the soda. The particular feature 

 of the experiment as conducted in 1895 has been the introduction of the test of the 

 effect of liming upon the development of a number of the more important grasses 

 which are already, or might, perhaps, be grown to advantage in this State. . . . 



