1886.] 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 



47 



Comparing these results with those obtained in the previous 

 year (5,040 lbs.), where the produce of the various plats was 

 practically of a correspouding weight, — 458 lbs. each, — 

 we notice that the application of potash compounds alone, 

 muriate of potash leading (see Plats No. 9 and 10), has had 

 a marked effect on the quantity and the quality of the corn 

 fodder raised, increasing the last annual yield not less than 

 one hundred per cent, above that of the preceding year 

 (1884). 



The amount of corn fodder raised on Plat No. 1, which 

 received nitrate of soda, exceeded but slightly (22 lbs.) that 

 of the previous season ; whilst the application of blood, am- 

 monium sulphate and phosphoric acid has not prevented a 

 'considerable falling off. The yield of corn fodder of fertil- 

 ized and unfertilized plats was practically the same in most 

 instances. 



In sight of these facts it seems justifiable to conclude that 

 a deficiency of the soil in available potassa controlled more 

 than that of any other essential article of plant food the final 

 yield of the crop. The experiment furnishes a good illustra- 

 tion of a one-sided exhaustion. Grass and fodder corn act 

 in a similar direction on the mineral soil resources of plant 

 food, — one part of phosphoric acid to four parts of potassa. 

 In case circumstances necessitate a direct succession of these 

 two crops it is well to remember that fact, and to provide 

 against a failure by applying to the soil liberally, in particu- 

 lar, potash compounds in some form or other. Muriate of 

 potash seems to deserve recommendation. The observation 

 will be continued during the coming season. 



