838 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



scheme for unlocking the reserves of the soil depended on stirriaag up 

 the subsoil and iterating - it by means of deep plowing - . This led to his 

 experiments in soil weathering, which took account of the increase in 

 available plant food and the extent of nitrification. 



His work on nitrogen assimilation included an extensive series of 

 experiments in pots and brick pits, to test the nitrogen-collecting 

 power of the various legumes and their ability to prepare the land for 

 carrying nitrogen-consuming crops like cereals. He had nearly sixty 

 pits constructed of varying sizes, with arrangements for collecting the 

 drainage water from each pit, and the whole inclosed in wire netting 

 to keep away birds. In addition, a large number of experiments were 

 made in glazed drainpipes set on end. The teachings of these culture 

 experiments were extended to held experiments on a larger scale, 

 which covered a variety of lines and were aimed at devising a new 

 system of farming. 



His success was not immediate, and he met with many discourage- 

 ments in the working out of a new system, but, as Mr. Hall says, 

 "with a clear conception of the principles he wished to translate into 

 practice, he pursued them through repeated failures until he found 

 the working conditions necessary for their application.' 1 A very com- 

 plete system of farm bookkeeping was established by him upon taking 

 up this work, and from a consideration of the balance sheets and of 

 the conditions of his fields, Mr. Hall concludes that the experimenter 

 solved the problem he set himself — "how to utilize, on the one hand, 

 the natural resources of the subsoil, and on the other the nitrogen- 

 fixing power of the leguminous crops. He showed that by the intro- 

 duction of lucern, a crop previously unknown on these clay soils, a 

 leguminous growth could be obtained which would endure for some 

 years at a small expense for tillage, and produce sufficient keep to pay 

 for the heavy initial outlay for deep cultivation and manures. Finally, 

 on the fertility thus accumulated, either good crops of roots and corn 

 could be grown, or the land could be successfully brought into the 

 state of permanent pasture." 



Mr. Mason also carried on experiments in the feeding of steers and 

 hogs, in these he did not work out any new ideas, but was aiming at 

 economic production as a part of his farming system. 



His method of using alfalfa for the improvement of the poor clay 

 land of his section was a novelty and, as it has been justified by the 

 results of several years, it is believed that it will gradually spread and 

 become a part of the tradition of farming on such land. 



In the annual report of the Wisconsin Station for the past year the 

 director makes a repty to those who have urged the establishment of 

 branch experiment stations in various parts of the State. He agrees 

 that "there is nothing more plausible to the novice in these matters 



