100 FOEAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



and potash fertilizers stimulate the growth of legumes 

 particularly. Lime is far more pronounced in its effect 

 on legumes than on non-legumes. 



At the Massachusetts Experiment Station it has been 

 observed that a top dressing of muriate of potash to a 

 mixed plot of timothy, redtop and clover caused a re- 

 markable increase in the proportion of clover. The 

 further work at this station showed that sulfate of potash 

 was far more efficient in this respect than the muriate. 



For very heavy yields of grass a larger application an- 

 nually of a complete fertilizer is necessary. Thus Wheeler 

 at the Rhode Island Experiment Station was able to se- 

 cure yields of hay averaging over 4 tons per acre for 3 years 

 by using the following amount of fertilizers to the acre : 



350 pounds nitrate of soda. 



500 pounds acid phosphate. 



200 pounds muriate of potash. 



It is questionable whether such heavy applications are 

 most profitable in the long run, especially as in seasons 

 of insufficient moisture the full benefit of the fertilizer 

 cannot be secured. 



On the basis of the Rhode Island work Wheeler recom- 

 mends an annual application to each acre of : 



400 to 500 pounds acid phosphate. 



300 to 350 pounds muriate of potash. 



300 to 350 pounds nitrate of soda. 



From the results secured at the Massachusetts Experi- 

 ment Station, Brooks suggests that the hay crop in rota- 

 tions be top-dressed about May 1 with the following 

 mixture of fertilizer to the acre : 



Nitrate of soda 175 to 200 pounds 



Acid phosphate 50 to 100 pounds 



High grade sulfate of potash 50 to 100 pounds 



