New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 27 



The work of the season of 1895 has had for its object a compara- 

 tive field-test of ten different brands of potato-fertilizers which are 

 in common use on Long Island. Incidentally, a simple comparison 

 was made between applying a fertilizer broadcast and in tlie row. 



The co-operation of Mr. Z. Hallock of Jamestown, L. I., was 

 secured in carrying on the work. Mr. Hallock's long, practical 

 experience as a successful potato grower was an assurance that the 

 work would be skillfully and conscientiously done. 



The detailed plans were made by the writer with the help of 

 suggestions from Mr. Hallock and others. The work has been 

 superintended on the part of the Station by Messrs. Lowe, Stewart 

 and Sirrine. All details of labor have been performed by Mr. 

 Hallock or under his immediate supervision and direction. 



Character and Previous History of Soil. 



The field used for the experiments is located on the farm of Mr. 

 Hallock, near Jamesport. The soil is a light loam from two to 

 three feet deep. This is underlaid by sand and gravel which 

 extend down more than fifty feet. 



In regard to its previous history, the field was last planted with 

 potatoes in 1890, after which it was sowed with rye and seeded with 

 timothy and clover. There was an excellent crop of clover in 1892' 

 and the field was mowed each season following. Ko commercial 

 fertilizers were applied while the field was in grass. 



Preparation of Soil for Planting. 



The field was plowed about April 1, 1895, and then lay until May 

 1. The soil was then thoroughly worked each way with a Mason's 

 spading harrow and then with a smoothing harrow. It was then 

 marked off with a sled marker in rows three feet apart. The field 

 was divided into plots of three rows each, one row being left 

 vacant between the adjacent plots. Each plot thus consisted of 

 three rows thirty-three rods long. There were in all twenty-six 

 plots. These were carefully staked off and numbered. 



Kinds or Fertilizers Used. 



Ten different brands of fertilizers used were as follows : 



1. " Riverhead Town Agricultural Society fertilizer," manufac- 

 tured by Frederick Ludlam. 



2. " Special," manufactured by Ellsworth TuthiU *fe Co. 



