181)7.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 177 



An early-maturing variety of soy bean was selected for 

 the experiments. The fertilizer mixtures were applied as in 

 previous years, broadcast, in the middle of April. Owing 

 to the protracted drought of July and August the crop did 

 not get that fulness of growth which might have been ob- 

 tained under more favorable conditions. The crop was cut 

 August 28. 



The difierence in the average yield of crop l)etween the 

 plats (4, 7, 9) which thus far had received no available nitro- 

 gen from outside manurial sources, as compared with that 

 from those which had received it in some form or other, was 

 more marked than in previous years. It amounted to one- 

 third in favor of the latter. 



1895. — In 1895 oats were again selected, as stated above, 

 to succeed soy bean, for the reason of permitting a direct 

 comparison of the results of 1892 (soy bean) and 1893 

 (oats) with those of 1894 (soy bean) and 1895 (oats). 



The ploughing, manuring, seeding down, etc., was carried 

 out in the same manner as during the preceding season 

 (1894). 



The average yield of the plats with and without nitrogen 

 supply from outside sources showed that no material change 

 in their relative degree of productiveness had taken })lace. 



1896. — It was decided to substitute in our experiment 

 a perennial leguminous plant, medium red clover, for the 

 annual leguminous plant, the soy bean, to ascertain whether 

 more satisfactory results will be secured from that change. 



As a few years' observation are required to obtain a satis- 

 factory basis for reliable conclusions, reports are deferred. 



2. EXPEEIMENTS WITH " NiTRAGIN," A GeRM FERTILIZER 



FOR THE Cultivation of Clover axd Clover-like 

 Plants — Leguminous Crops . 



The history of progress in agriculture shows that a more 

 general and liberal introduction of clover and clover-like 

 plants, as beans, peas, vetches, etc., as forage crops, into a 

 general system of farm management has everywhere increased 

 the chances of a more remunerative farming. The valuable 

 investigations of Laws and Gilbert have furnished strikinii' 



