190.-).] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 83. 119 



during the past season, all three systems of manurhig being 

 represented on a total area of about 9 acres, is at the rate of 

 8,050 pounds of hay per acre. The average for the twelve 

 years during which the experiment has continued (1893 to 

 1904, inclusive) is 0,718 pounds. 



IX. — To determine which is better economy, — to spread 

 manure as hauled from the stable during the winter, or to 

 place in a large heap to be spread in spring. This ex- 

 periment was repeated in five pairs of plots. The winter 

 application gave the better 3'ield in three cases, the spring 

 application in two ; but the diiference in the value of the 

 crop where the spring application gave the larger yield was 

 not sufficient to cover the diiference in the cost of the two 

 systems of handling the manure, which amounts to $4.80 

 per acre. The winter of 1903 and 1904 was exceptionally 

 favorable to good results from application at that season, as 

 conditions were such that there was no washing over the 

 surface. 



X. — To determine whether the application of nitrate of 

 soda after the harvesting of the first crop will give a profit- 

 able increase in the rowen crop. The increases produced 

 were considerable, but, possibly because of somew^hat defi- 

 cient rainfall, were not sufficient to make the application dis- 

 tinctly profitable. 



XI. — The variety test of potatoes. Fortj^-nine varieties 

 of potatoes were tested. The yield obtained from the differ- 

 ent varieties ranged from 104 bushels of merchantable pota- 

 toes per acre for the Clinton to 319 bushels of merchantable 

 potatoes per acre for Sinnnon's Model. Seven varieties gave 

 a yield in excess of the rate of 260 bushels per acre, nameh^ : 

 Simmon's Model, Extra Early White Rose, Great Divide, 

 Steuben, 1904, Mills' New Rose Beauty. These varieties 

 are mentioned in the order of their productiveness. 



XII. — Comparison of different foods and combinations 

 of foods fm'nishino; essential nutrients in different nutritive 

 ratios for laying hens. Tlie hens were supported, at a cost 

 of about 1^ of a cent per hen daily, on mixtures of food 

 rich in corn, as compared with a cost of about 1/4 of a cent 

 prr hen daily, on mixtures of food rich in wheat. The food 



