460 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



by the growth of legumes. This means that more livestock may be main- 

 tained more che<aply on the same acreage, or the same number on a smaller 

 area with less labor. 



TABLE 6. — HOURS OF HUMAN LABOR AND HORSE LABOR AND ACRES OP LAND RE- 

 QUIRED TO PRODUCE THE SAME AMOUNT OF CROPS ON AVERAGE LAND AND 

 LAND PROPERLY DRAINED, LIMED AND FERTILIZED. 



This does not include the time required to haul, thresh or stack the produce. 



A number of field tests have been made to determine the response of 

 different classes of soil to treatments with acid phosphate. Some of 

 these have been conducted cooperatively on county farms, some with 

 farmers and others with county agricultural agents* In several in- 

 >stances the results obtained have been remarkable indeed. 



Field tests have been in progress three years at the Van Buren county 

 farm on sandy loam soil. The first year corn was planted on the experi- 

 mental plots, but owing to an accident the yields were not taken. Ob- 

 servations made b}' Grantham during the growing season and a few days 

 previous to the time of harvest of the corn revealed that the presence of 

 either raw rock ])hosphate.or acid phosphate increased the rate of growth 

 even in the early stages of its development. It was estimated that the 

 yield was increased seven bushels by the phosphorus. 



The second year oats were seeded and the yield was increased by the 

 ])hosi)horus that the corn crop did not utilize, as shown by figures 5 and 10. 



Interesting results have been obtained from field tests at the Cass 

 county farm on sandy soil. These have been in progress two j^ears, and 

 each treatment is duplicated or in other words two different portions 

 of the field receive the same treatment. The yield of rye on three plots is 

 given in table 7. The acid phosphate and the potassium chloride were 

 applied to soy beans the previous year, but the sodium nitrate was applied 

 to the rye crop 50 pounds at the time of seeding and 50 pounds in early 

 spring. 



Thft writers are indebted to Mr. C. H. Graves, Farm Mgt. Demonstrator, for much, of the 

 data in the above table. 



*At this time we desire to express our gratitude and acknowledge our indebtedness to these 

 men for their commendable attitude toward the different lines of work undertaken, in fact the 

 splendid spirit with which they have co-operated has made it possible for us to conduct the 

 field tests. 



