62 INDIAN CORN CULTURE. 
Experiments with fertilizers.—It is inter- 
esting, however, to note some of the results 
from using fertilizers experimentally on corn. 
Much of this work has heen done with great 
care, and may be suggestive, if not having a 
direct application. 
In 1881 Prof. W. 0. Atwater, in an address 
before the Connecticut State board of agricul- 
ture, reported on the effects of fertilizing 
materials upon corn grown in 73 experiments 
on sandy or sandy loam soil, extending over the 
years 1878, 1879 and 1880. In these experi- 
ments, “phosphoric acid took the leading place 
often, potash occasionally, and nitrogen very 
rarely.” Prof. Atwater considers the experi- 
ments numerous and decisive enough to war- 
rant the inference that, as corn is common.y 
grown, nitrogenous fertilizers in any quantity 
would rarely be profitable. 
For several years past fertilizer experiments 
on corn have been conducted by the Storrs’ 
(Connecticut) experiment station, under the 
direction of Prof. C. 8. Phelps. “The crops 
grown on light soils were in nearly all cases 
oreatly increased by the use of potash or nitro- 
gen, or both, while in only one case was there 
any considerable increase from the use of phos- 
phorie acid.” On the heavy soils phosphoric 
acid gave by far the best results. “The experi- 
ments thus far made indicate that for corn, 
