22 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



2. Good ploughing at the proper time and thorough pul- 

 verization of the soil, followed by careful culture of the 

 crop and careful han<;lling of the product. 



3. The fertilizers should be selected from high-grade 

 material, and free from all deleterious compounds, in fine 

 condition, and applied broadcast to the soil. The use of a 

 good fertilizer drill makes a large saving in the work, and 

 secures a more perfect distribution of fertilizers. 



The Chairman. The remaining lecture of the forenoon 

 will now be given by Prof. G. H. Whitcher, director of the 

 New Hampshire Experiment Station, upon the subject of 

 *' Chemical Fertilizers." I have the pleasure of introducing 

 Professor Whitcher. 



CHE]\nCAL FERTILIZERS. 



BY PROF. O. H. WHITCHER OF HANOVER, N. H. 



The subject which I shall discuss to-day is so much like 

 the one already presented, that I will not attempt to follow 

 any definite line, but will simply give you a talk, and as far 

 as possible will make my remarks cover difierent ground 

 than that so well gone over by the speaker who has preceded 

 me. If, in the attempt on my part, my remarks should be 

 a little rambling, I hope you will pardon the lack of definite- 

 ness. I also want to say to you that I shall be very glad to 

 have any one break in with questions at any point. You can 

 easily ask questions that I cannot answer ; but I will frankly 

 say that I don't know, when such is the case. 



I shall endeavor to suggest answers, or partial answers, 

 to three questions : — 



1. What do Plants require? 



2. Where shall we get the Materials they need? 



3. How shall we apply the same? 



If I could fully answer these three questions, I should 

 know more about fertilizers than any other living man ; 

 but I want to say that such is not the case, and I can only 

 give you a few ideas on each. 



What do Plants required 

 That is the question I asked myself when I commenced 

 the study of this problem. To know what a plant requires, 



