34 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



It Avill be noticed that in every instance spring manuring 

 lias given a larger yield both of stover and of hard corn 

 than winter application. This result is in general agree- 

 ment with those of earlier years, but the differences as indi- 

 cated by the relative yields are comparatively small. The 

 winter of 1904 and 1905 was characterized by uniform 

 temperatures, fairly deep and continuous snow cover and 

 absence of thaws. Such conditions are of course favorable 

 to winter application, and the above-mentioned peculiarities 

 of season perhaps account for the smaller relative differences 

 in yield this year. 



The system of manuring designated as spring ap})lication 

 involves, as will have T)een noticed by the reader, twice 

 handling, while in winter application the manure is handled 

 but once. Spring application, therefore, costs more than 

 winter application. As the result of our experience, we 

 estimate the money difierence to amount to |4.80 })er acre. 

 The average difference in the value of crops this ^^eai- in 

 favor of spring application, estimating stover to be worth 

 $5 per ton and the corn as husked 50 cents per bushel, 

 amounts to only $o.49 per acre, — a sum insufficient to 

 cover the increased cost of spring application. Even on 

 Plot 3, where the difference in tavor of spring application is 

 greatest, the money difference in value of the crops on the 

 same basis as before is only $4.81, which barely covers the 

 increased cost of application. The results for this season, 

 therefore, economically considered, indicate that S})reading 

 the manure as taken from the stable in the fall or wdnter is 

 to be preferred. 



VII. — Experiment in manuring Grass Land. 

 The plan of this experiment, which has continued now for 

 thirteen years, will be made clear by quoting from the six- 

 teenth annual report ; — 



In this experiment, which has continued since 1803, tlie pur- 

 pose is to test a system of using manures in rotation for the 

 production of grass. The area used in the experiment is about 

 9 acres. It is divided into three approximately equal plots. 

 The plan is to apply to each plot one year barnyard manure, 



