1894.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 227 



7 . Field Experiments to compare the Effect of Home- 

 made Mixed Stable Manure, of Unle ached Wood 

 Ashes and of Various Mixtures of Commercial 

 Fertilizing Materials on the Yield of Some 

 Prominent Farm Crops, when applied as Manure 

 UNDER Otherwise Fairly Corresponding Condi- 

 tions (1888-94). 



EoM Field, 



The land used for these observations covers an area of 

 from seven to eight acres, and is located along the east side 

 of the farm of the station. On its western termination it 

 borders on a meadow in fair condition, and on its eastern 

 side it is separated from a natural thrifty grove by a private 

 road from thirty-five to forty feet wide. 



The soil consists of a somewhat sandy loam, with indica- 

 tions of light springs in various parts of the field. The 

 more prominent springs are connected by drain pipes with 

 the main drain of the adjoining meadow since the experi- 

 ment began. 



The entire field slopes gently and quite uniformly from 

 east to west. Corn and grasses represent in the main the 

 crops raised upon the ground in years preceding 1887. 



The inferior yield and character of the crops of later years 

 raised upon the land pointed towards an indifierent manage- 

 ment, as far as the selection of crops and of manure is 

 concerned. To destroy weeds and other objectionable local 

 growths, it became advisable to introduce a thorough system 

 of drill cultivation. 



In the autumn of 1887 the sod which covered the entire 

 area was turned under by ploughing, and subsequently, by a 

 repeated use of a wheel harrow, was thoroughly broken up. 

 One ton of unleached wood ashes (per acre), applied broad- 

 cast and slightly ploughed in before the close of the season, 

 served as manure for the coming year (1888). 



The succeeding spring, after a thorough mechanical prep- 

 aration of the soil by ploughing and harrowing, the follow- 

 ing crops were planted : potatoes, barley, oats and corn. 



