30 



EXPERIMENT WITH FERTILIZERS. 



In order to ascertain the value of fertilizers in the production 

 of syrup, an experiment was planned a year ago, in which the co- 

 operation of our Wisconsin farmers was solicited.' Over forty 

 farmers agreed to carry out a simple experiment as I directed. 

 The following are the directions which were sent to each in April 

 last: 



DIRECTIONS FOR THE EXPERIMENT. 



Select in the field where cane is to be planted three plots of 

 ground, each containing not less than ten square rods and lying 

 side by side. The ground should be as uniform as possible in its 

 composition and fertility. Do not select soil where one end of 

 the plot is sand and the other loam or clay. No matter which it 

 is, but have it all of one character. Have the plots, if possible, 

 long and narrow, say one rod by ten, or two by twenty, etc. The 

 plots should lie side by side and should not be separated from one 

 another or the rest of the field. One plot, No. 1, plow in well- 

 rotted stable manure at the rate of sixteen large loads per acre — 

 one load for every ten rods. Plot No. 2, which is to be the mid- 

 dle plot, has no manure of any kind upon it. When the cane on 

 plot No. 3 is three or four inches high apply plaster to the hills 

 or rows to the amount of one hundred and sixty pounds per acre,, 

 or ten pounds for every ten rods. The cane is to be planted and 

 cultivated in the same manner as the rest of the field. If possi- 

 ble, weigh the cane of each plot separately when ready for the 

 mill. Boil the juice to a syrup weighing eleven and a half 

 pounds per gallon, and determine accurately the yield of each 

 plot. Save a sample of syrup from each plot for comparison. 



Report to the department upon the following points : 



1. Amount of ground in each plot. 



2. Character of soil — clay, loam, sand, etc. 



3. l£ soil naturally rich or poor? 



4. Number of years the field has been in cultivation. 



5. Crops grown on field previous year. 



6. Whether or not the field was manured the previous year. 



7. Method of planting cane — in drills or hills. 



