1904.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 141 



Though no combination of fertilizers gives what can be 

 considered a good crop, the lesson is just as clear this year 

 as in previous years, vi/., that fertilizer* for corn should be 

 rich in potash. 



B. — Soil Test vnth Mixed Grasft and Clover {North Acre) . 



The Held on which this test was carried out has been used 

 in similar tests with various crops for fourteen years, begin- 

 ning in 1890. The fertilizers have been applied in accord- 

 ance with the system regularly used in soil tests, save as 

 regards amounts. During the years when potatoes or onions 

 have been grown, double the usual quantities have been em- 

 ployed. One other peculiarity in treatment must be reported. 

 In the spring of 1899 one-half of each plot received an appli- 

 cation of freshly slaked lime, at the rate of 1 ton per acre. 

 This lime was spread after plowing, and worked in with a har- 

 row. The crops in order of succession have been : potatoes, 

 corn, soy beans, oats, grass and clover, grass and clover, cab- 

 bages and ruta-baga turnips, potatoes, onions for four years 

 (1898 to 1901 inclusive), potatoes, and grass and clover. 

 The crop upon which we are reporting followed potatoes. 

 The seeds sown included the following varieties : timothy, 

 red-top, and manmioth red and alsike clover. The seeds of 

 the timothy (18 pounds), red-top (8 pounds), red clover 

 (5 pounds) and alsike t?lover (4 pounds) were mixed and 

 sown broadcast Sept. 15, 1902. The date of sowing Avas so 

 late that the grass made relatively little growth during the 

 autumn months and the clover winter-killed. The winter 

 was, however, fovorable for the grasses, and they came 

 through without injury, and 15 pounds of red clover seeds 

 were s®wn on April 4. 



As has been pointed out in another connection, there was 

 less than one-half inch of rain from the middle of April to 

 the 7th of June. The conditions, therefore, were most un- 

 favorable for the germination of the clover and for the growth 

 of the young and therefore very shallow-rooted grass plants. 

 The yields, therefore, were small, but the results are never- 

 theless of considerable interest. The fertilizers applied to 



