Food for Potash. One plot received no Nitrate, one plot a top-dressing 

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

 3 8 of 450 pounds of Nitrate per acre. The seed used was one- 

 quarter red clover, one-quarter redtop, and one-half timothy. 

 The yield in barn-cured hay was as follows : 



No Nitrate 1.60 tons. 



150 Ibs. Nitrate 2.24 tons. 



450 Ibs. 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 unfavorable that there was prac- 

 tically 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 shows 

 What Crops tne actua i amounts of Nitrogen, Potash, 

 and Phosphoric Acid they contain, and is a 

 ^ O1 ' s * fairly good guide for the composition of 



fertilizers. In an examination of the fertilizer requirements 

 of plants by studying their analysis, we must keep in mind 

 the fact that the whole plant must be considered not only 

 the grain, straw, etc., but also the stubble and roots. 



The Storrs Experiment Station of Connecticut reported 

 on an experiment with timothy hay, with results as follows: 



Yield 



per acre. Nitrogen Potash. Phos. Acid. 



Hay 3,980 Ibs. 39.0 Ibs. 51.5 Ibs. 13.9 Ibs. 



Stubble and roots 8,223 " 90.1 " 55.8 " 25.2 " 



Total 12,203 Ibs. 129.1 Ibs. 107.3 ' Ds - 39- 1 I DS - 



The quantities of plant food actually 

 Equivalent contained in the crop, computed to the best 



Quantity of known fertilizer materials, are represented 



by 807 pounds of Nitrate of Soda, 215 

 pounds of muriate of potash, and 280 pounds of acid- 



