26 Report of the Acting Director and Chemist of the 



and leave $13.34 in addition. In the most unfavorable case, the 

 increased yield was insufficient by $29.05 to pay for the fertilizer 

 used, (d) In no case did an application of 2,0(t0 pounds of fertilizer 

 an acre produce as economical results as did the use of 1,000 pounds ; 

 and, in most cases, the use of the higher quantity was attended with 

 loss of money. 



YII. Coviparisoii of Applying Fertilizers Broadcast and in 

 Row. — Better results were obtained by applying the fertilizer in 

 the row, when smaller amounts of fertilizer were used. When 2,0u0 

 pounds of fertilizer an acre were used, better results came from 

 applying broadcast. 



INTKODUCTIOK 



The growing of potatoes forms a very extensive and important 

 part of the agriculture of Long Island. There are connected with 

 this industry several conditions which are peculiar to the locality. 

 The soil is more or less light in character, and fertilizers tend to 

 leach easily. Hence, to grow this crop successfully requires annual 

 applications of fertilizers in fairly large quantities. The conditions 

 present oifer several questions of interest for study. Among such 

 questions, the following may be suggested : 



What amount of fertilizing material in the form of commercial 

 fertilizers can be used most economically % 



What method of applying a fertilizer is attended with the best 

 results ? 



Will the effects of the application of fertilizers continue through 

 only one season or through more ? 



Can any system of cultivation be introduced which will enable 

 the farmer to raise potatoes more profitably with smaller application& 

 of fertilizers ? 



A satisfactory investigation must involve a study of these and 

 similar questions and must therefore be broad in its scope. The 

 work undertaken during the past season is to be regarded only as a 

 preliminary introduction to carrying out a more extended and com- 

 plete series of experimental studies in the future. 



The investigation was undertaken in response to an urgent 

 expression on the part of many representative farmers of Long 

 Island. It was not possible to prepare plans early enough to make 

 the experiments of this season hardly more than preliminary to more 

 extended work during; the coming seasons. 



