20 a EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



obtained where it has been used at the rate of 450 pounds per 

 acre, which would seem, therefore, to be the maximum rate 

 which it would pay to use on this soil. 



5. Still another question which we have sought to answer has 

 been: in what quantity, if any, can muriate of potash be used 

 with profit in connection with liberal applications of nitrate of 

 soda and acid phosphate? 



In these experiments the muriate has been used in three 

 quantities, respectively, at the following rates per acre: 175, 

 262 and 350 pounds. Even with the smallest of these amounts 

 the increase produced has been large. The highest increase has 

 usually been obtained where the muriate of potash has been used 

 at the rate of 262 pounds per acre, which, therefore, would seem 

 to be sufficient on this soil to meet the maximum requirements 

 of the crop. 



6. We have sought to determine which among the various 

 materials which may be used as a source of potash seems best 

 suited to the crop. The materials under comparison have been 

 muriate of potash, wood ashes, high-grade sulfate of potash, 

 low-grade sulfate of potash and kainit. These have all been 

 used at such rates as to furnish an equal amount of actual 

 potash per plot. The muriate of potash has given the highest 

 yields, followed closely by kainit. As the results in different 

 years have been in close agreement I think we are justified in 

 the conclusion that there is no form of potash superior to muri- 

 ate for the asparagus crop. 



7. In connection with the various trials to which I have 

 referred we have also tested the results of the application of a 

 so-called "complete" fertilizer made up of nitrate of soda, acid 

 phosphate and muriate of potash, in connection with manure at 

 the rate of 20,000 pounds per acre. This so-called "complete" 

 fertilizer in connection with manure has not increased the crop 

 in any greater degree than has nitrate of soda when used alone; 

 and while during the past year the combination in which nitrate 

 was used at the rate of 600 pounds per acre has given a slightly 

 larger crop than the combination in which it was used at the rate 

 of 450 pounds, in each of the preceding three years the maxi- 

 mum was obtained with the smaller amount. I believe, there- 

 fore, we are justified in the conclusion that neither the acid 



