156 



values of fertilizing ingredients for 1889, as agreed upon by the sta- 

 tions in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey; exp]ai\arions 

 of these values; fertilizer statistics for Vermont in 1888: a tabular 

 I'ecord of analyses of twenty-eight licensed fertilizers, and a compari- 

 son of the average composition and value of licensed fertilizers for 

 1888 and 1889. Estimates based upon returns from one hundred and 

 two railroad stations in the State indicate that about 1/200 t«^ns of 

 fertilizers, valued at about $150,000, Avere sold to Vermont farmers in 

 1888. The quality of the fertilizers sold in 1889 is about the same as 

 in the previous year. The average selling price has decreased this 

 year 33 cents per ton, but as the average value has also decreased just 

 about as much the farmer gets th3 same fertilizing material for his 

 money as last year. 



BULLETIN No. 15, JUNE, 1889. 



Effect of fertilizers on the co:mposition of corx, W. AV. Cooke, 

 M. A. (pp. 3-16). — In the experiments recorded in this article the 

 intention was to test the wants of the soil by an analysis of the crops 

 produced with different fertilizers. 



The earth wa.s dug out of a treuch, 6 feet wide and 9G feet long, to the depth 

 of 16 inched. The trench was then divided hy a board partition into sixteen 

 plats, each 6 feet square and 18 inches deep. When these were filled with dirt, 

 each load was scattered as evenly as possible over the whole sixteen plats, to 

 eliminate from the experiments all differeaces of soil. The soil used was a clay 

 loam, gathered from the surface of recent plowed sod ground, and a load of 

 clear sand was added to each two loads of the loam. When the ground had 

 settled it was leveled, the fertilizer intended for each plat scattered broadcast 

 over it, and then each plat spaded G inches deep, thus thoroughly and evenly 

 working the fertilizer into the upper 6 inches of each plat. The two end plats 

 and one near the middle were left without fertilizer, to serve as a basis for judg- 

 ing of the effect of the fertilizers of the other plats. 



The fertilizers contained nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, 

 singly, two by Iavo, and all three together. Nitrogen was furnished 

 by nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, and dried blood; phospho- 

 ric acid by superphosphate, pliosphatic iron slag, and insoluble South 

 Carolina rock; potash by muriate of potash. The crop was Sanford 

 corn, which was cut before it w^as ripe to escape frost. Tables give 

 details of first appearance of tassel, bloom, and silk; average height 

 of stalk in inches at different dates ; analysis of crop ; weight of con- 

 stituents of crop; per cent of each fertilizing ingredient in the dry 

 matter of crop ; weight of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash per 

 acre added to the land and subtracted in the crop. 



The highest yields were with phosphori& acid, used alone or with 

 other materials. Phosphatic (basic) slag gave fully as large yields 

 as dissolved phosphate, and also produced much better results than 

 undissolved South Carolina rock. Only when phosphoric acid was 

 used was there a noticeable increase in the dry matter of the crop. 

 The proportion of starch ^\as highest when phosphoric acid was 



