1902.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 49 



led to the conclusion that an experiment was needed to de- 

 termine whether that practice is wise. The previous history 

 of one of our fields had left it in such condition that we 

 could compare two methods only of application. This field 

 had previously been divided into five plots, each of which 

 had for some ten years received different manurial treat- 

 ment. These plots were comparatively wide, and it Avas 

 proposed to divide each in the middle, designating one-half 

 of each plot north, the other south. The original plots had 

 been numbered 1 to 5. The previous manurial treatment 

 had been as shown in the table : — 



In 1899 the entire field was evenly manured with manure' 

 from well-fed milch cows. The topography of the field is 

 such that there is considerable slope lengthwise of the plots, 

 although the lay of the land makes it possible that under 

 exceptional circumstances there may also be a little wash 

 from one plot to another. The crop in 1899 and 1900 was 

 corn, — in 1899 for the silo, in 1900, husked; in 1901 the 

 crop was Japanese barnyard millet. 



The plan of manuring followed during 1900 and 1901 

 may be thus described : — 



Four of the plots — 1, 2, 3 and 4 — receive an application 

 of carefully saved manure from milch cows at the rate of 

 10 tons to the acre. Plot 5 receives an application of stable 

 manure at about the same rate. The cow manure when ap- 

 plied is comparatively fresh and unfermented. The four 

 plots receive this manure each at a different date, our prac- 

 tice being to remove the manure from the pits as it accumu- 

 lates as soon as the quantity made is sufficient for one plot. 



