142 



HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



the several plots and the rate of yield per acre with the gain 

 or loss where the different fertilizers were employed are shown 



in the following table : — 



Orass and Clover. — North Acre Soil Test, 1903. 



Plots. 



Fertilizers used. 



Nothing, 



Nitrate of sotJa 



Dissolved bone-black, 



Nothing, 



Muriate of potash, . 



Nitrate of soda and dissolved 



bone-black. 

 Nitrate of soda and muriate of 



potash. 

 Nothing, i . . . . 



Dissolved bone-black and nni- 

 riale of iKttash. 



Nitrate (if noda, dissolved bone- 

 black and muriate of potash. 



Plaster, 



Nothing, 



Gain or Loss per 



acre, compared 



WITH Nothing Plots. 



Unlimed 



(Pounds). 



1,096.7 

 463.3 



135.0 

 1,330.0 

 1,345.0 



177.5 



1,895.0 



2.5 



Limed 

 (Pounds). 



2,036.7 

 603.3 



50.0 

 2,390.0 

 1,510.0 



207.5 

 1,975.0 

 —517.5 



Examination of the table makes the fact evident that it is 

 the nitrate of soda chiefly which determined the rate of yield. 

 It is further evident that this is able to exert its full influ- 

 ence only on the half of the plot which received the applica- 

 tion of lime that has been referred to. Nitrate of soda alone 

 on the limed half of the plot after fourteen years continuous 

 use still gives a crop of hay at the rate of rather over 11 tons 

 per acre ; used with dissolved bone-black, it gives almost 

 exactly the same yield ; used with muriate of potash, it gives 

 a smaller yield, — onl}^ a little over 1 ton to the acre. 



Much evidence is afforded, by a study of the relative pro- 

 portions of the different species on the different plots and on 

 the limed and unlimod portions of the several plots, that the 

 soil in some parts of this field is once more becoming acid. 

 It is likely that this is the case on Plot 7, for to that plot 

 have been applied large quantities both of muriate of potash 

 and nitrate of soda, both of which tend to aggravate the 

 conditions leading to development of a sour condition of the 



