146 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



and what we ascertained to be a fact this year, we endeavored 

 to apply in the compounding of fertilizers the next year ; and 

 that is the reason, gentlemen, why the formulas have been 

 changed. It was supposed that they were to be changed ; I 

 believe they are to be' changed again ; I may be mistaken. 

 The experiments are not yet completed. Before I am done 

 to-day, I shall indicate the direction in which it is possible 

 these formulas may yet be changed, because there is yet a 

 broad field to be investigated in this matter. Thus much 

 pardon me for saying in regard to the " Stockbridge formu- 

 las," and the correctness of those formulas. 



Now, I have stated that the experiments of the Agricultu- 

 ral College were simply an attempt to ascertain, if possible, 

 if the acknowledged principles of plant-nutrition could be 

 applied in practical agriculture. Since the last meeting of 

 'the Board, we have had another year's experience; we have 

 had another year for study, trial, and experiment, and I stand 

 here to say that this year's experience, trial, and experiment 

 has only served to confirm me in my previously expressed 

 belief in relation to this whole matter, and to enable me to 

 express in stronger language, and with more confidence, my 

 belief in the theory that has been advanced heretofore, than 

 I could use one year ago, and your attention will now be 

 called to some of the experiments at the Agricultural College 

 this year, from some of which nothing whatever has been 

 learned.; from others, certain things have been learned. 



But before proceeding to give, in as few words as I am 

 able, the result of those experiments, I wish to say a word 

 about the season of 1876, and I preface it by this strong 

 statement. I do uot believe that the farmers of New England 

 have, in the crops of this year, received their money back for 

 the fertilizers that they have used, whether barn-yard manure, 

 the Stockbridge fertilizers, or any other fertilizer that could 

 be bought in the market. It has been a season of unparalleled 

 and unprecedented drought and heat, except in certain local- 

 ities, where there have been local showers to give relief. 

 Crops manured with all kinds of fertilizers have been injured, 

 and even deep-rooted trees have suffered from the dry weather, 

 until their leaves have been seared, their fruits have shrivelled 

 and dropped from the bough. This is the fact in relation to 



