102 Food for Plants. 



On the lowland, the crop without Nitrate was worth 

 $41.91 per acre, and, with Nitrate, $52.27, a gain of $10.36, 

 which is reduced to $o.l-4 when the cost of Nitrate and 

 harvesting is deducted, still a good profit on the invest- 

 ment, though clearly indicating that Nitrogen was not the 

 limiting factor in croj) production as was the case on the 

 upland. In making the tahles, the actual cost of labor, 

 seed and fertilizers was used. The value of the hay w^as 

 estimated at $12 per ton, and based on weights at time 

 of harvesting. The shrinkage of hay wall range from 

 15 to 25 per cent. ; assuming the shrinkage to be as un- 

 usually high as 25 per cent., the value per ton would have 

 to increase to $16 to balance, which is lower than prevail- 

 ing prices have been since that year for No. 1 timothy. 



Crops of 1906. 



The experiment Avas continued in 1906, on the same 

 areas. In order to insure a constant and abundant sup- 

 ply, mineral fertilizers were again added in the form of 

 w^ood ashes and acid phosphate, and in the amounts 

 showm in the table, namely, 520 pounds of wood ashes 

 and 578 pounds of acid phosphate per acre on both the 

 lields. 



The applications of Nitrate were, however, reduced 

 from 200 to 168 pounds on the upland; and to 112 pounds 

 on tlie lowland i)er acre. These fertilizers were all evenly 

 distributed in the spring of 1906. The etfect of the Ni- 

 trate was again immediately noticeable in increasing the 

 vigor of the plants. The yields were as follows : 



Yield of Crops in 190G. 



Upland Lowland 



With With 



168 lbs. 112 lbs. 



Without Nitrate Without Nitrate 



Nitrate per acre Nitrate per acre 



Yield per acre.... 3,200 lbs. G,240 lbs. 5,920 lbs. 8,080 lbs. 

 Increase from Ni- 

 trate 3,040 lbs. 95.0% 2,160 lbs. 36.4% 



These results confirm those for 1905 on the whole, 

 though there are points of difference which may be rea- 



