142 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



result was, that the t^vo rods planted with improved phosphate 

 produced about half as much broomcorn, as the two rods, 

 fertilized only with hog manure. 



Piece No. 4 was manured in the hill, just before planting, 

 with improved super-phosphate of lime, put upon alternate 

 rows. The rows where it was applied were much the largest 

 and best colored, during the second and third hoeings — the 

 earliest in ripening — and I think will yield fifty pounds more of 

 brush. 



Piece No. 5 was one-fourth of an acre of Indian corn, on 

 which I applied forty pounds of improved phosphate, dropped 

 on manure in the hill. The result was about two and one- 

 half bushels of corn more, than on an equal quantity of ground, 

 of similar soil, treated in like manner, except that the improved 

 phosphate was not applied. 



This finished one bag of the phosphate — the expense of it 

 applied, was $5, and the extra amount received from its use 

 was about $10, and my net gain $5. 



I experimented, in like manner, upon other pieces of broom- 

 corn and Indian corn, both before and after planting, and during 

 the first and second hoeings — but could see no effects whatever 

 from it. 



I also purchased twenty bushels of oyster-shell lime, and 

 applied it for corn -, some in the hill, and some broadcast — 

 some with, and some without manure ', but, if there is any good- 

 ness in it for my soil, it is yet to be seen. 



I also purchased salt to assist me in my labors to make corn 

 grow. I put some in the hill, sowed some at the rate of five 

 bushels, and some at the rate of one bushel to the acre. The 

 corn all grew alike, and the worms cat it without reference to 

 the salt. 



Another experiment was successful. In August, 1853, I 

 made a muck-heap from the swamp, and let it lie exposed to 

 frosts and air, until about the middle of April. Then I carted 

 it to my lot designed for corn, and there, mixing three loads of 

 it with one load of stable manure, and one bushel of ashes to a 

 load, which caused it to heat powerfully ; I made a compost, 

 which I applied in the hill, side by side with manure not so 

 composted. The corn upon the compost was larger, of better 



