30 



hands of agents, yet we are led to believe, through many inquiries, 

 which reach us through correspondence, that a considerable quantity 

 of the New Mineral Fertilizer is bought by farmers from year to year. 



Field Experiments with New Mineral Fertilizer and Stonemeal. 



Although chemical analysis has repeatedly shown that these 

 products are worth but little as sources of plant food, yet in view of 

 the extravagant claims made by the manufacturers and promoters 

 it was thought best to make a field experiment with several crops to 

 establish the actual worth of the products as measured in terms of 

 crop production. A field was secured which offered natural ad- 

 vantages for an experiment of this nature, the land being level, of 

 fair mechanical condition, reasonably free from stones and some- 

 what deficient in available plant food. Previous to the experiment 

 no fertilizer or manure had been used on the soil for many years, and 

 an annual crop of hay had been removed. The field was carefully 

 surveyed and marked off into 24 fortieth-acre plats. The whole field 

 was plowed in the fall of 1912, and the plats to be limed received an 

 application in the earh' spring, at which time they were thoroughly 

 disc harrowed. The crops employed were corn, potatoes and oats. 

 Each experiment was run in duplicate, the duplicate plats in each 

 crop being located in different parts of the field so as to equalize any 

 natural advantages or disadvantages which might develop to influence 

 the experiment. The entire experiment, from the time the field was 

 plowed until the harvest of the crops, was in charge of Mr. E. F. 

 Gaskill, Assistant Agriculturist of the Experiment Station. 



Com Experiment. 



Eight of the plats were devoted to this crop. The different 

 plats received fertilizer at the following rates per acre: 



Plats 1 and 6. Lime one ton, manure four cords (applied May 

 3d and disked in). High Grade Sulfate of Potash 150 pounds, Basic 

 Slag Phosphate 500 pounds. Tankage 150 pounds. Nitrate of Soda 

 100 pounds. 



Plats 2 and 4. New Mineral Fertilizer, one ton per acre. 



Plats 3 and 8. No fertilizer or lime. 



Plats 5 and 7. Stonemeal ("O" grade, for oats and corn), one 

 ton per acre. 



On May 27th the fertilizer was applied as per schedule, the 

 field fitted, and on Alay 28th the corn was planted. During the 

 summer the crop was cultivated six times and hoed twice, each plat 

 receiving the same treatment. The crop was cut and stooked 

 September 15th, husked October 22d, and weighed October 30th, 



