26 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



numbered plots received no potash. From 1889 to 1892 all 

 plots were manured alike. Since 1892 each plot has re- 

 ceived yearly bone meal at the rate of 600 pounds per acre, 

 the odd numbered plots muriate of potash at the rate of 

 400 pounds, and the even numbered plots high-grade sul- 

 fate of potash at the same rate per acre. There are eleven 

 plots, numbered 11 to 21. These plots have been used for 

 a wide variety of crops during the seven years that the 

 experiment has been continued. The crops during the past 

 year have been sugar beets, sweet corn, cabbages, field corn 

 and soy beans. 



Sugar Beets (^Sulfate v. Muriate of Potash). 

 Sugar beets of four varieties occupied plots 15 and 16. 

 The yield on 15 (muriate of potash) amounted to 3,815 

 pounds (14.3 tons) per acre; the yield on 16 (sulfate of 

 potash) amounted to 3,708 pounds (13.9 tons) per acre. 

 Each variety was sampled and the value of the beets for 

 sugar manufacture determined. With one exception the 

 beets grown on the sulfate of potash showed considerably 

 higher percentages of sugar and a juice of a higher degree 

 of purity than those grown on the muriate. Though the 

 latter gave a slightly higher yield, the sulfate produced 

 more sugar and a juice offering less difficulties in manufact- 

 ure. In the case of the one variety Avhere the muriate gave 

 the richer beet, it is believed that this was due to the fact 

 that the sulfate beets selected for analysis were consider- 

 ably larger than the others. The differences in quality be- 

 tween the beets grown on the two salts were not sufiiciently 

 great to materially affect their value for stock feeding. 



Siveet Oorn (^Sulfate v. Muriate of Potash). 

 This crop (Moore's Concord) occupied plots 11 and 12. 

 Our objects were : first, to study the effect of the two forms 

 of potash on yield ; second, to determine whether there was 

 any difference in quality between the product of the two 

 plots which would affect its value for the table ; and, third, 

 to determine whether there was any well-defined difference 

 in composition of the entire plant (stalk and ear) which 

 would affect the value for stock feeding. 



