F °piants Top-Dressing Experiments. 



36 R esu its of ^ e °ffi c i a l Agricultural Experi- 



Nitrate on ment Stations have made many experi- 



Money Crops. ments to determine the value of top- 

 dressings of Nitrate of Soda, particu- 

 larly the New Jersey Station. The work of this Station 

 demonstrated the value of Nitrate top-dressing on 

 various fruits and vegetables. The Rhode Island Ex- 

 periment Station (see Bulletin 71) made a top-dressing 

 test on grass land and the results also indicated a 

 profitable use of this chemical fertilizer. 



The experiment was made on three plots, all of 

 which were treated with ample quantities of Phosphoric 

 Acid and Potash. One plot received no Nitrate, one 

 plot a top-dressing of 150 pounds per acre, and the 

 remaining plot a top-dressing of 450 pounds of Nitrate 

 per acre. The seed used was one-quarter red clover, 

 one-quarter red top, and one-half timothy. The yield 

 in barn-cured hay was as follows: 



No Nitrate 1 . 60 tons. 



150 lbs. Nitrate 2 . 24 tons. 



450 lbs. Nitrate '. 3 . 28 tons. 



The season was not good hay weather on account 

 of an early and severe drouth, yet the top-dressing of 

 150 pounds of Nitrate of Soda per acre increased the crop 

 of hay 40 per cent., and the top-dressing of 450 pounds 

 gave an increase of 105 per cent. In summarizing the 

 results the Station reports that in spite of weather so un- 

 favorable that there was practically no second crop, a 

 top-dressing of 150 pounds of Nitrate of Soda per acre 

 increased the crop in value $6.94, at a cost for Nitrate 

 of $3.30; a top-dressing of 450 pounds per acre increased 

 the value of the crop $16.98 at a cost of $9.90. 



Plant Food Need of Crops. 



The chemical analysis of plants 

 What Crops shows the actual amounts of Nitrogen, 



Take out of Potash and Phosphoric Acid they con- 



Soils, tain, and is a fairly good guide for the 



