97 



was employed is lower than under any other treatment. We have 

 above three averages illustrating its effect, viz. : potash alone, 14.94 

 percent; all plots which received any potash, 14.98 per cent, and 

 " complete" fertilizer, 14.51 per cent. These are the only averages 

 which are below fifteen per cent, and the general average is a little 

 above sixteen per cent. That the muriate of 2^otash is distinctly 

 unfavorable to starch formation then, it seems can hardly be doubted. 

 It must be remembered, however, on the other hand that this salt is 

 generally favorable to production, and that, as a rule, quality is 

 inversely proportional to quantity. 



REPORT ON TRIAL OF MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 



During the past year a number of varieties of different farm crops 

 have been cultivated on our grounds for the purpose of testing their 

 value for general cultivation. The soil on which they were grown is 

 a medium loam, well drained and warm. It is in a comparatively 

 low state of fertility ; but all parts alike received a broadcast appli- 

 cation of a mixed fertilizer coiitaining for each acre : nitrate of soda, 

 150 pounds; dissolved bone-black, 200 pounds, and muriate of 

 potash, 200 pounds. This fertilizer was thoroughly harrowed in. 

 All these crops were cultivated to such an extent as was necessary 

 to prevent the growth of weeds. An account of each follows : 



Oats, Variety, Early Bace Horse. Seedimported from Japan, where 

 it had been cultivated five yeurs. 

 This seed had originally been imported into Japan from England, 

 when it weighed 46 pounds to the bushel. It gave magnificent crops 

 in northern Japan, 70 bushels per acre being not uncommon. We 

 received but a very small quantity of this seed and it was sown in 

 rows eighteen inches apart. The area sown was .0269 acre, the crop 

 amounted to only 23 quarts of grain weighing 20 pounds, and 100 

 pounds of straw. Per acre the crop, at this rate, would amount to 

 3717 pounds of straw, and 26.7 bushels of grain, weighing only 27.8 

 pounds per bushel. This crop was sown April 23d, cut Aug. 7th, 

 and threshed Aug. 1 1th. 



Oats, Variety, Early Race Horse. Seed cultivated one year on the 

 farm, originally from Henderson & Co. 

 The area sown amounted to .02756 acre. The manner of sowing 

 and the dates of planting, cutting and threshing were the same as for 

 4 



