157 



present in abundance in the fertilizer, and lowest when potash was 

 used instead of phosphoric acid. The same was true regarding the 

 amount of starch per plat. 



Assuming that the diflVrcnccs in produce were due to the fertilizers, 

 it appears that "addition of niti'ogen alone iuci-eased the per cent of 

 nitrogen oi- a M)iiiiiiiioi(!s in Ihc d'op ; add it ion of i)otash or of nitrogen 

 and potash did not change the per cent of nitrogen; addition of plios- 

 phoric acid alone or in conihinatioii h)\vei"ed the j)ei' cent of nitrogen, 

 !)ut each time it ko iuci'i'ased the weight of the crop as to actually take 

 more niti'ogen from the soil tlian when nitrogen compounds alone were 

 used." 'I'o the (inestion whether the analysis of the plant shows the 

 needs of the soil a i!egati\(' answei- is given. 



In several of the trials, altliough the amount of nitrogen supplied in 

 the fertilizer was (juite large, yet the crop contained even more nitro- 

 gen. I'his is in accord with the results of exi)eriments on corn con- 

 ducted some years ago in diil'erent i)ai"ts of the country, which in- 

 cluded several by the University of Vermont and State Agricultural 

 ColU'iie. These indicated that coi'u " did not need much artificial 

 su])piy of nitrogen; that the nitrogen aj)plied was almost always at a 

 financial loss, and that if plenty of phosphoric acid and i)otash was 

 given it would sni)[)ly itself with nitrogen and make a good crop." 



The same plats, witliout additional fertilizer, have l)een sown this yenr to peas 

 and oats, to he followed hy hnrley, i-ye, and grass. Each crop will be fully 

 analyzed as above to see what effect is produced by tlie fertilizers and how long 

 that effect can be traced. 



Analysis of hay, "\\'. ^V. Cooke, M. A. (pp. lT-2()). — Analyses 

 \yere made of samples of Avhat was considered first-class hay from 

 f"arn)ers in different parts of the State who had taken premiums in the 

 butter exhil)it at the meeting of the State Dairymen's Association in 

 Januai'v, 1S88. From the tabulated record of these analyses some 

 conclusions are drawn, fi-om ^^hich the following points are taken: 



(1 ) The vai'iation existing betv.een samples of hay, all of which are 

 considered good, extends to the fertilizing as well as the feeding value. 



(2) Either because these samples were selected ones or because Ver- 

 mont |)i-o(luces a sujx'rior ((uality of hay, tlie results of the analysis 

 Vv-ere bettei- than those for the avei'age of hay analyzed in other States. 

 The probal)ilities aiv thought to favor the second season. 



(3) In both fertilizing and feeding value the clo^•el• exc(dled the 

 timothy. 



(4) It is estimated that the fertilizing value of the early cut hay is 

 juuch gi-eatei- than that of the late cut. As the grass grows older the 

 increase of sul)stance is gi-eater than the increase of the valuable fer- 

 tilizing ingredients, and more of the latter are washed out and 

 brought back into the soil l)y rain from the older than from the 

 younger hay ; hence, if hay is to be sold from the fai-m. that should be 

 selected which was most fully matured when cut. 



