1900.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 33 



ceived no nitrogen-containing manure or fertilizers since 

 1884; one (0) has received farm-yard manure; two (1 and 

 2), nitrate of soda; three (5, 6 and 8), sulfate of am- 

 monia; and two (3 and 10), dried blood every year since 

 1889. These materials have been used in amounts to fur- 

 nish nitrogen at the rate of 45 pounds per acre each year. 



All plots have received yearly equal quantities of phos- 

 phoric acid and potash ; viz. , 80 pounds per acre of the former 

 and 125 pounds of the latter from 1889 to 1894 and the past 

 four seasons ; but in 1894 and 1895, double these quantities. 

 To some of the plots the potash is applied in the form of 

 potash-magnesia sulfate ; to others, in the form of muriate. 

 The results with the former salt have been superior to those 

 with the latter, as a rule, particularly when used in connec- 

 tion with sulfate of ammonia. The entire field received at 

 the rate of 1 ton per acre of partially air-slacked lime in the 

 spring of 1898, in addition to the usual fertilizers. 



Up to this year we may briefly characterize the results, 

 in so far as these have a bearing upon the two main ques- 

 tions proposed, as follows : — 



1. The leguminous crops grown (soy beans in 1892, 

 1894 and 1896) have not appeared to enrich the soil in nitro- 

 gen, if we accept the results with the next following crop as 

 affording a basis of judgment. 



2. The different sources of nitrogen have ranked on the 

 average in the following order : nitrate of soda, farm-yard 

 manure, dried blood and sulfate of ammonia. 



The crop in 1898 was oats. After harvesting them, the 

 land was ploughed and sown to what was supposed to be 

 mammoth red clover in August. The variety appears to be 

 the common red. This went into the winter in excellent 

 condition, but was somewhat winter-killed on all plots, ap- 

 parently for reasons unconnected with the manures which 

 had been employed. The injury was most severe on plots 

 0, 5 and 8, and least on plot 5. Between the other plots 

 there was little difference in the degree of injury, if we ex- 

 cept plot 6, on which it was greater than on the others. 

 Seed was sown on the surface this spring where needed. 

 This germinated well, but the young plants made little 

 growth, on account of the dry weather. Two crops were 



