EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS. 



There was concluded in 1910 a series of experiments that had 

 been carried on for twenty-two years with the object of obtaining 

 information regarding the results which follow the application of 

 certain fertilizers and combinations of fertilizers on the more import- 

 ant farm crops. In this series much useful information has been 

 gained for the benefit of those who care to study the work as published 

 in the Annual Report of the Experimental Farms for 1910. Merely 

 to indicate the character and value of these tests, reference will be 

 made to conclusions reached. 



This investigation extended over three periods, the first during 

 which fertilizers of various kinds were applied to lands for different 

 crops from 1888 to 1898; the second during which fertilizers were 

 discontinued and clover grown 1900 to 1904; and the third when 

 fertilizers were again used as in the first period. 



Among the conclusions reached those respecting barnyard manure 

 are of the greatest interest and value. It has been shown that this 

 manure can be economically used in the fresh or unrotted condition; 

 that fresh manure is equal, ton for ton, in crop-producing power to 

 rotted manure. Since experiments have shown that losses during 

 the process of rotting may amount to 60 per cent, or even more of 

 its weight, and in view of the vast importance of making the best 

 possible use of barnyard manure, it is difficult to overestimate the 

 value of this one item of information. 



In the second period, the value of clover as a fertilizer was 

 clearly shown. In addition to the nitrogen gathered from the air, 

 this plant adds to the amount of mineral plant food available, by 

 collecting it from depths not reached by the shallower root-systems 

 of other farm crops. It serves as a catch crop, retaining fertilizing 

 material brought down by the snow and rain, and also that formed 

 by nitrification of the soil itself, much of which would otherwise be 

 lost. Clover also supplies the land with a large amount of humus- 

 forming material, which in its further decay deepens and mellows 

 the soil. 



In this work of the second period with clovers, the Director 

 was very ably assisted by the Chemist, Mr. Frank T. Shutt, who with 

 Dr. Saunders issued in Bulletin No. 40 a full report of the clover 

 experiments. It was very widely circulated, and coming out at a 

 time when the value of clover was only slightly understood, it proved 

 of inestimable value to the cause of better farming. 

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