No. 4.] AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 239 



and most profitable returns, These experiments would be a 

 source of profit to the institution. 



In the other lines enumerated above the work of the pre- 

 vious years has been continued, and in addition two entirely 

 new lines of experimental enquiry have been instituted. 



First. — Experiments in tiles, two feet in diameter and 

 four feet deep, set upright in the ground and filled with 

 equal quantities of thoroughly mixed earth. The object in 

 view is the determination of certain questions as to the use 

 of manures or fertilizers under conditions which guarantee 

 and secure accurate results. Two soil tests ; one compara- 

 tive trial of seven different phosphates ; one experiment in 

 liming and one test to determine the extent to which the 

 product of individuals under similar conditions will vary. 

 The results of the fertilizer trials are of course not decisive in 

 a single year. The test for the purpose of bringing out the 

 individuality of different tubers of the same variety of pota- 

 toes of the same size and form emphasizes the necessity of 

 caution in attaching too much importance to results obtained 

 in variety trials upon a small scale. 



Second. — Pot experiments. The use of zinc pots about 

 ten inches in diameter and about twelve inches deep for 

 experiments pertaining to the feeding of plants has been 

 begun. The success in growing oats, corn, potatoes and 

 beans in these pots was gratifying. All grew in an en- 

 tirely normal and healthy manner. By this system con- 

 ditions were perfectly controlled, and many sources of 

 inaccuracy and error, unavoidable in the field work, elim- 

 inated. This line of experiment will be largely extended 

 another year. 



We can only mention other experiment work and deduc- 

 tions, — a full statement would take too much time. 



In feeding for eggs, the comparison with cut bone and 

 animal meal has been continued, with results decisively in 

 favor of animal meal. The use of Sheridan's condition pow- 

 ders for laying hens has been further tested, with results 

 against the use of the powders. Two rations for hens, one 

 containing a large quantity of wheat, the other substituting 

 corn, have been tried, with results decisively in favor of the 



