1889.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 21 



for a succession of years, following a system of crop rotation 

 without animal manure, using commercial fertilizers alone. 



Besides the lot before referred to in this paper, I have a 

 large acreage of plain land that came into my possession 

 fifteen years ago, which has been treated wholly with com- 

 mercial fertilizers. This land has produced paying crops of 

 grass, corn, potatoes, rye, oats and tobacco, and the fertility 

 of the soil has been fully maintained. 



I have found by experimental tests that all of my culti- 

 vated lands were naturally deficient in potash and lime ; and 

 I have taken this condition of the soil into account in my 

 application of fertilizers. 



I am satisfied that no single formula, with certain fixed 

 percentages of nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid, can 

 reasonably be expected to apply equally well on all soils for 

 the same crop ; therefore, in practice, I have varied the per- 

 centages according to my best knowledge of the condition 

 of the soil, and requirements of plant food of crop culti- 

 vated. I have found unleached ashes an excellent fertilizer 

 to bring in a good catch of clover. Clover itself often per- 

 forms the office of a fertilizer by pushing its long tap root 

 into the lower subsoil strata, and pumping up the nitrates 

 and other stores of plant food to the surface soil, which 

 brings it within the reach of other special crops that follow. 



Sandy soils, when not properly treated, are often found 

 deficient in vegetable matter or humus. This deficiency can 

 be supplied in a variety of ways, according to circumstances, 

 either by ploughing in coarse barnyard manure, clover sod, 

 stubble, cornstalks, tobacco stems, or some other cheap 

 vegetable material. This I should call preliminary work ; 

 afterwards I would apply the plant food according to the 

 requirements of the crop. 



I wish to say, in conclusion, that there are certain impor- 

 tant conditions which must be observed, if we expect to 

 secure the highest possible returns for our outlay of capital 

 invested in fertilizers. 



1. Unless the natural drainage is perfect, provision should 

 be made to carry off all surplus water from the land. This 

 can be done in most cases at small expense by under- 

 drainage. 



