46 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



more striking at the present time than when the field was 

 in grass in 1897 and 1898. In view of the well-known fact 

 that the clover sod when turned is exceedingly favorable 

 for succeeding crops, it is confidently anticipated that the 

 differences in yields under the two systems of manuring will 

 increase from year to year, and that the superiority of the 

 mixture of fertilizers containing more potash will therefore 

 become increasingly evident. 



XL — Experiment in manuring Grass Lands. 



The system of using wood ashes, ground bone and muri- 

 ate of potash, and manure, in rotation upon grass land has 

 been continued upon the same basis as last year. There are 

 three large plots, varying in size between about 2% and 4 

 acres. It may be remembered that according to the system 

 followed each plot receives wood ashes at the rate of 1 ton 

 per acre one year ; the next year, ground bone 600 pounds, 

 and muriate of potash 200 pounds, per acre ; and the third 

 year, manure at the rate of 8 tons. Both this year and last 

 there has been used, on the plots receiving ashes, and ground 

 bone and muriate of potash, respectively, nitrate of soda at 

 the rate of 150 pounds per acre. This year, as last, a small 

 application of nitrate of soda has been made to about one- 

 half of the plot receiving wood ashes after the cutting of the 

 first crop, for the purpose of determining to what extent 

 such application is beneficial to the rowen crop. The sys- 

 tem of manuring is so planned that each year we have one 

 plot under each of the three manurings. The barnyard 

 manure is always applied in the fall, the ashes, and the bone 

 and potash, in early spring. The nitrate of soda used on 

 two of the plots was applied to one April 18, to the other 

 April 19. The past season has been favorable to the hay 

 crop. All these plots have been cut three times. The 

 total yields were at the following rates per acre : — 



Pounds. 



On barnyard manure, 7,367 



On wood ashes and nitrate of soda, .... 5,817* 

 On bone, muriate of potash and nitrate of soda, . . 6,815 



* Actual yield, G,679 pounds; above figure obtained by making reduction equal 

 to increase believed to have been produced by application of nitrate of soda for rowen. 



