1886.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 51 



II. 



Influence of Fertilizers on the Quantity and Qual- 

 ity OF some prominent Fodder Crops. 



[See Sketch B.] 



The earlier history of the field (B) which has been re- 

 served for these experiments, as well as a description of the 

 general plan adopted regarding the latter, was outlined in 

 the Second Annual Report, pages 85 and 8Q. 



The entire field was ploughed and harrowed May 12, and 

 subsequently subdivided, in the same manner as in the pre- 

 ceding years, into eleven plats of corresponding size, — 

 one-tenth of an acre each. Plats No. 11, 13, 15, 17, li> 

 and 21 each received, as in the j^revious year, a mixture of 

 sixty pounds of steamed ground bones and of twenty pounds 

 of muriate of potash; whilst Plats No. 12, 14, 1(3, 18 and 20 

 received no manurial matter as fertilizer. The latter had 

 not been fertilized for two preceding years. The fertilizer, 

 applied broadcast to each alternate plat, as above stated, was 

 slightly harrowed under before seeding. 



Indian Corn. — The observations concerning the develop- 

 ment of the Indian corn, and its general character at various 

 stages of growth, have been continued in this connection 

 foi" the purpose of furnishing a more reliable basis for the 

 decision of the question, — At what period of its growth is it 

 best to harvest the crop for either dry corn fodder or corn 

 ensilage, considering in both cases the quality and quantity 

 of the crop secured ? 



Plats No. 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 served again, as in pre- 

 vious years, for the cultivation of corn. "Hampden Pro- 

 lific" corn was planted in rows, May 16, in a similar way 

 as described in connection with the corn experiment upon 

 underdrained plats (field A) ; i. e., in rows three feet and 

 three inches from each other, with from six to eight kernels 

 in spots frpm twelve to fourteen inches apart, to allow a 

 vigorous growth and a thorough, clean cultivation. The 

 crop raised upon the fertilized Plats No. 17, 19 and 21 was 

 to serve in part for ensilage ; that obtained from the unfer- 

 tilized Plats No. 18 and 20 was to be sold as dry fodder 



