1914.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 25 a 



therefore, about 100 pounds greater than in 1912 ; the rate per 

 acre in round numbers, one ton greater in 1913 than in 1912. 

 The larger yields in 1913 were doubtless due in considerable 

 measure to the fact that there was but little rust in 1912. It is 

 thought that the specific effects of the different fertilizer ele- 

 ments and combinations, therefore, are shown much more clearly 

 in the yields obtained in 1913 than in any previous year. It 

 is not the purpose at this time to report either the plan of the 

 experiment or the results in detail ; but the following general 

 conclusions appear to be warranted: 



A fairly liberal use of chemical fertilizers is as effective to 

 date in increasing yield as a combination of manure and fer- 

 tilizers. 



Effect of Nitrate of Soda as a Source of Nitrogen. Nitrate 

 in Connection with Mineral Fertilizers (Acid Phosphate and 

 Muriate of Potash). — Xitrate of soda greatly increases the 

 crop, but a quantity in excess of the rate of 300 pounds per 

 acre has not so far seemed to be beneficial, and in a considerable 

 number of instances the minimum application (at the rate of 

 200 pounds per acre) has given a crop as good or even slightly 

 better than any larger amount. 



Season of Application of Nitrate. — ^^Titrate of soda in these 

 experiments is applied in equal amounts in three different 

 methods as regards season : — 



(a) All in the early spring, 



(b) Half in the early spring and half after the cutting sea- 

 son is ended. 



(c) All after the cutting season is ended. 



The results indicate a moderate degree of superiority for a 

 method of application in which a portion at least of the nitrate 

 is applied after the cutting season. This superiority shows it- 

 self both in slightly larger yield and in apparently making the 

 crop somewhat more resistant to rust. 



Nitrate in Connection with Manure. — In the case of all 

 plots top-dressed with manure at the rate of 20,000 pounds to 

 the acre the application of nitrate also has resulted in a distinct 

 gain in yield, which, however, reaches its maximum on the 

 medium quantity of nitrate (300 pounds per acre). 



