116 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



Comparing these results with those obtained in the pre- 

 vious year, where the products of the various plats were prac- 

 tically of a corresponding weight (458 lbs. each), it was 

 noticed that the ajpjylication of potash compounds alone, mu- 

 riate of potash leading (see Plats No. 9 and 10), had exerted 

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

 fodder raised, increasing the previous 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, had exceeded but slightly (22 lbs.) 

 that of the previous season ; while the application of blood, 

 ammonium sulphate and phosphoric acid, had not prevented 

 a considerable falling oif. The yield of corn fodder of fer- 

 tilized and unfertilized plats was practically the same in 

 Plats 1 to 8. 



In sight of these facts, it seemed but justifiable to conclude 

 that a deficiency of the soil in available potash had controlled, 

 in our case, more than that of any other essential article of 

 plant food, the final yield of the crop. 



As the cultivation of grasses and fodder corn afiects the 

 manurial resources of the soil in a similar direction, by ab- 

 stracting approximately one part of phosphoric acid to four 

 parts of potash, it is but a natural result that a soil which 

 originally did not contain much more of available potash 

 than of available phosphoric acid, must become unproduc- 

 tive before the latter is exhausted. 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 particular, potash com- 

 pounds in some form or other. Muriate of potash deserves 

 recommendation. 



To verify the above conclusion, the experiment was con- 

 tinued during the year 1886, with the sole modification 

 of increasing on each fertilized plat the particidar fertiliz- 

 ing ingredients to twice the amount used in the preceding 

 year. 



The plats were thoroughly ploughed and harrowed May 

 15, 1886. The fertilizers were sown broadcast in each case, 



