174 POTATO CULTURE. 



from the manufacturers direct, so I know it was fresh, and 

 the best they make, as they know me and what it was to be 

 used for. One set of experiments was on our very best land ; 

 another on our poorest land, mostly clay. In each case we 

 put in four rows with about 500 Ibs. of fertilizer per acre ; 

 four rows with 1000, and four with 1500. The rows ran 

 through the field. We put in four rows so we could measure 

 the two rows in the middle of each strip, which could not be 

 affected by plants stealing from adjoining plots. All tillage 

 was exactly the same, and seed and planting. When culti- 

 vating we were always careful to allow of no variation in 

 time that could affect the result. Well, of course the rows 

 were marked with stakes, and we watched them pretty care- 

 fully, as did our neighbors and others. At no time during 

 the season could any one pick out the rows where fertilizers 

 were used, by their larger growth, either on good or poor 

 land not even where more than $30.00 worth per acre was 

 used. Nor was there any variation at digging-time more 

 than what there will always be, as no two rows are likely to 

 yield exactly the same. In fact, some of the fertilized rows 

 yielded slightly less than the others. We have thrown away 

 our money again. As one neighbor put it, u You have paid 

 about $40.00 to learn what you knew before." Well, not 

 exactly. I did not really know but that my soil might now 

 respond to fertilizers ; but it will not, on poor land or rich, 

 where we are growing clover. One man says this was owing 

 to the dry season. Very well ; it is claimed that fertilizers 

 show effects for several years. We will see if any one can 

 tell in growth of wheat or clover where 1500 pounds per acre 

 of complete fertilizer was put. 



SCAB. 



To be sure that we did not plant any germs of this disease, 

 all seed was treated with corrosive sublimate, both the good 

 and the doubtful. Friend Smith's seed was perfect ; but I 

 knew he had some scab on his place last season, and so we 



