1904.] 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 



131 



The relative average standing for this year, determined 

 upon the same basis, is as follows : — 



Fertilizers used. 



Early Crops 

 (I'er Cent.). 



Late Crops 

 (I'er Cent.). 



Muriate of potash, , 

 Sulfate of potash, . 



KtO.OO 

 98.36 



92.66 

 100.00 



Combining tliese results with those of the twelve previous 

 years, the average standing, as indicated by total yields, is 

 as shown in the following table : — 



Fertilizers used. 



Early Crops 

 (Percent.). 



Late Crops 

 (I'er Cent.). 



Sulfate of potash, . 

 Muriate of potash, . 



100.00 

 93.84 



97.97 

 100.00 



The total rainfall during the past season from April 17, 

 the date when the fertilizers were applied to the dandelions 

 and strawberries, to June 7 was .48 inches. Such a raintall 

 must have been quite insufficient to bring the less soluble 

 fertilizers into circulation, and the failure of the sulfate of 

 potash to produce its usual effect on the early crops is not 

 surprising. It has been repeatedly noticed in experiments 

 here that in excessively dry seasons the muriate of potash 

 usually excels the sulfate for all crops, even those which ordi- 

 narily do better on the sulfate. Following this period of 

 excessive drouth came a period extending from the 7th of 

 June to the end of the month with equally excessive rain- 

 fall, the total precipitation for that period amounting to 7.79 

 inches. July was also a comparatively rainy month, and it 

 seems probable that the more soluble muriate of potash may 

 have been largely carried into the subsoil. In this position 

 it would not be equally available to the lato crops as the less 

 soluble sulfate. 



It is not the belief of the writer that the fact that the rela- 

 tion of the two potash salts for this season to early and late 

 crops respectively is exactly the reverse of what it has been 

 in previous years, should lead to a modification of the advice 



