18 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



in the four pairs of plots under comparison were relatively 

 small except in one instance. Nitrate applied at the rate of 

 250 pounds per acre gave an apparent increase of nearly 1 

 ton of rowen, which is considerably more than sufficient to 

 cover the cost of the nitrate. 



IX. — To test the relative value for the production of 

 garden crops of fertilizers supplying respectively nitrogen 

 and potash, when used with manure. The nitrogen fer- 

 tilizers compared are dried blood, nitrate of soda and sulfate 

 of annnonia. The use of the nitrate is attended with the 

 greatest profit. On the basis of total crops produced, the 

 relative standing of the different nitrogen fertilizers is : for 

 the early crops, nitrate of soda, 100 per cent. ; dried blood, 

 95.67 per cent. ; sulfate of ammonia, 63.08 per cent. ; for 

 the late crops, nitrate of soda, 100 per cent. ; dried blood, 

 98.77 per cent. ; sulfate of ammonia, 79.52 per cent. 



The potash salts under comparison are high-grade sulfate 

 and muriate. For the fifteen years the relative standing of 

 these fertilizers is : for the early crops, sulfate of potash, 

 100 per cent. ; muriate of potash, 94.66 per cent. ; for the 

 late crops, sulfate of potash, 97.9 per cent. ; muriate of 

 potasli, 100 per cent. 



X. — To determine whether alfalfa is a profitable crop in 

 Massachusetts. A large number of experiments tried during 

 the past eight or ten years indicates that it is quite doubtful 

 whether alfalfa can be successfully grown under our climatic 

 conditions. 



XI. — Comparison of difierent feeds and feed combinations 

 furnishing the essential nutrients in varying proportions for 

 laying hens. The results indicate corn to have superior 

 merit among the different grains for the production of eggs, 

 considered from the standpoint both of total number and 

 economy of production. Rice is somewhat superior in num- 

 ber of eggs produced to corn, but the cost is so great as to 

 render its use inexpedient. 



