MANURES. 141 



Experiments of Albert Montague. 



In tlicse days of progress, when every one wishes to be 

 profiting by his neighbor's experience, we are liable to do as 

 our neighbor has done, without considering whether it will be 

 for our benefit. We are apt to think what has produced great 

 crops for him, will certainly fill our barns and granaries. Do 

 we not need a little of the conservative, as well as much of the 

 progressive? I am led to these reflections, from the fact of 

 having, in a small way, during the past season, experimented 

 faithfully with foreign manures, but have not received the anti- 

 cipated benefit. I propose to state these experiments, with 

 their cost and profit. My farm lies in Sunderland. The soil 

 is sandy loam, with a trifle of marl. It is rather low, so much 

 so, that in cold or wet seasons, corn is liable to be bitten by 

 frost, before fully ripe, unless it gets an early start. I have 

 usually, for this reason, put part of the manure, applied to my 

 corn land, in the hill. Last spring I purchased two bags of 

 Prof. Mapes' Improved Super-phosphate of Lime, and used it 

 upon several different pieces in the following manner : — 



Piece No. 1 was grass land which had been top-dressed for 

 four or five years. Upon thirty square rods I spread thirty- 

 seven and a half pounds of improved phosphate, which, when 

 applied, cost one dollar twenty-five cents. Upon a piece ad- 

 joining, of like soil, in same condition, I applied the same value 

 of rotted manure and obtained one-fourth more hay from the 

 manured ground. 



Piece No. 2 was grass land which had been top-dressed with 

 well rotted manure. I sowed thirty-seven and a half pounds of 

 improved phosphate upon thirty rods — which cost, when ap- 

 plied, one dollar and twenty-five cents. 1 cut about three 

 hundred pounds more of hay from these thirty rods than from 

 an adjoining thirty rods treated in the same manner, except 

 that phosphate was not applied. 



Piece No. 3 was broomcorn. Upon two rods I put five 

 pounds of improved phosphate. I manured two other rods 

 with manure from my hogpen, at tlie rate of ten loads to the 

 acre, which was of about the same value as tlie super-phos- 

 phate. I applied both manures and phosphate in the hill. The 



