38 



MEADOWS AND PASTURES 



"In 1901 a careful examination was made to determine the rela- 

 tive percentages of the two chief grasses on each of the three 

 plots. It was found on the plot without nitrogen that these per- 

 centages for timothy and redtop were 20 and 80 respectively, 

 upon the plot with one-third ration of nitrogen they were 39 and 

 61, and where the full ration of nitrogen was used they were 67 

 and 33. Similar though perhaps more marked differences were 

 noticed this season. This is the fourth successive demonstration 

 of the importance of nitrate of soda in maintaining a stand of 

 timothy. 



An interesting and important finding from these ex- 

 periments was that timothy grown on land well supplied 

 with nitrogen was itself richer in that element. Nitro- 

 gen is the element from which protein is largely com- 

 posed and it is well known that feeds rich in nitrogen are 

 most costly to purchase and best adapted to building body 

 tissues in animals and to making milk. That this experi- 

 ment in Rhode Island paid well the following financial 

 results per acre in 1902 show : 



"Comparing the results upon plots 17 and 19, it will be seen that 

 an extra outlay of $3.11 for nitrate of soda on plot 19 gave an 



*The actual price of hay has been considerably in excess of the 

 value used in thxs estimate. 



tMuriate of potash valued at $42, acid phosphate at $15, and 

 nitrate of soda at $45 per ton, respectively. These prices are 

 above what most of the goods could certainly have been bought 

 for early in the season. 



