148 



HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. 



[Jan. 



The product at the first cutting was at the rate of 5,640 

 pounds of hay per acre. 



Eight equal plots were laid out, and on the alternate 

 plots nitrate of soda was applied, — to two at the rate of 

 150 pounds to the acre, to one at the rate of 200 pounds, 

 and to another at the rate of 250 pounds. The first crop 

 of timothy was cut on July 11 and 14. The nitrate was 

 applied on July 22. The rowen was cut on September 22 

 and weighed on October 3, in good condition. The rates 

 of yield per acre are shown in the following table : — 



Plots. 



Fertilizers used. 



Pounds. 



Plot 1, 

 Plot '2, 

 Plot 3, 

 Plot 4, 

 Plot 5, 

 Plot 6, 

 Plot 7, 

 Plot 8, 



No nitrate, . , . . 

 Nitrate of soda, 150 pounds, 

 No nitrate, . . . . 

 Nitrate of soda, 150 pounds. 

 No nitrate, . . . . 

 Nitrate of soda, 200 pounds, 

 No niti'ate, . . . . 

 Nitrate of soda, 250 pounds. 



459 

 826 

 367 

 789 

 257 



1,320 

 587 



1,542 



The average results were as follows : — 



Average no-nitrate plots, ....... 



Average increase due to application of 150 pounds of nitrate, 

 Increase due to application of 200 pounds of nitrate, 

 Increase due to application of 250 pounds of nitrate, 



Pounds. 



417.5 



390.0 



902.5 



1,124.5 



The moisture conditions on the different plots of this 

 field, which is of considerable length, are not exactly uni- 

 form, being somewhat more favorable toward that end of 

 the field on which the larger applications of nitrate of soda 

 were made. It is believed that this difference in moisture 

 conditions in part accounts for the better apparent effect of 

 the nitrate where applied in the larger quantities. If we 

 determine the increases apparently due to the nitrate by 

 comparison of the yields on plots to which such application 



