892 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECOKD. 



The results of 3 years' experiments show that even for heavy clay the 

 peat-litter manure is superior to straw-litter manure. 



Poudretie and nitrate of soda for various crops. — The effect of 3 kinds 

 of poudrette on the yields of hay and of potatoes and on the starch 

 content of the latter was studied in 1892 and 1893. The composition 

 of the poudrette applied was as follows : 



Analyses of poudrette. 



Water. 



Total 

 nitrogen. 



Phos- 

 phoric 

 acid. 



Potash. 



Peat poudrette 



" Kiddeisirk " poudrette 



" Concentrated peat poudrette 



Per cent. 

 70.70 

 77.35 

 49.57 



Per cent. 

 0.86 

 1.10 

 1.68 



Per cent. 



0.40 



.74 



2.04 



Percent. 



0.44 



.40 



1.51 



Only "Riddersirk" poudrette increased the yield of hay sufficiently 

 to be profitable. 



In 1893 the different kinds of poudrettes and nitrate of soda were 

 compared on potatoes. As in 1892, like money values of the differe'it 

 fertilizers wore applied. The soil was a sandy clay. The fertilizers 

 were applied directly before i^lantirig the potatoes. The results follow 



Starch content and yield of potatoes. 



Fertilizer. 



Starch 

 content. 



Yield per hectare. 



Tubers. Starch 



None 



Peat poudrette 



" Riddersirk " poudrette 



''Cimr.fntrated peat poudrette' 

 Nitrate of soda 



Per cent. 

 13.43 

 13.60 

 13.66 

 13.80 

 11.50 



Kg. 

 21,800 

 24, 025 

 24,650 

 21,000 

 20, 925 



Eg. 

 2,918 

 3,255 

 3,360 

 2,905 

 2,406 



The low percentages of starch obtained are explained by the lack of 

 rain in the early vegetation period, the low summer temperature, and 

 the lack of heat and light during the month of September. 



The decrease in the starch content of the potatoes receiving nitrate 

 of soda is contrary to tlie experience of Stutzer, who states that the 

 quality of potatoes is not appreciably lowered by applications of this 

 fertilizer, and that the increase in yield is large, especially in dry 

 seasons. 



The effect of peat poudrette and nitrate of soda on barley was studied 

 during 1893, equal money values of both fertilizers being applied. 

 Every plat received Thomas slag at the rate of 80 kg. per hectare. The 

 average results obtained were as follows : 



