116 THE SOILS AND CROPS OF THE FARM. 



posed of nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid — has 

 usually given the largest increase but at a more than 

 corresponding cost. Usually, but not always, barn- 

 yard manure has given a large increase in yield; con- 

 sidered entirely as a waste product, it has been 

 applied profitably. This does not preclude the 

 possibility that it may be more profitably used on 

 some other crops. 



That commercial fertilizers have not been profita- 

 ble in the instances given does not show that they 

 would not be profitable on other soils and under 

 other conditions, but the results indicate that it would 

 be prudent for every farmer beginning the use of 

 commercial fertilizers on wheat to apply them in a 

 limited way and in such a manner as to make it 

 evident whether their application was profitable on 

 his soil. 



While advocated by some, mulching wheat with 

 straw or other material for the purpose of winter pro- 

 tection has not been generally practiced. The Ohio 

 Experiment Station has been testing the question of 

 mulching during the past decade, and has found no 

 practical benefit from the use of a mulch. In severe 

 seasons the benefit has been very slight, while in mild 

 seasons the mulch has usually been harmful. A 

 heavy mulch was more harmful than a light one. In 

 exposed situations and localities where there ^ little 

 ■'§in5w~upon the ground" a light muIcB^ii^ beneficial to 

 the wheat. But where there is considerable snow 

 and the temperature more uniform the mulch is pretty 

 certain to do more injury than good. 



Variety. — There are two cultivated forms of the 

 genus Triticum. First, the form in which the palets 



