66 



Mr. Appleton's experiment was a test between the Stock- 

 bridge and Stable Manure, with present results very much in 

 favor of the Stockbridge Fertilizer. 



I think it well for practical farmers, one and all, to admit 

 that chemical fertilizers are, and aye to be, to stable manure, 

 what coal is to wood, what kerosene is to whale oil ; they are 

 to come out of the earth to supply the wants of man, when 

 the surftice supply gets short* 



The first question for every farmer to ask about chemical 

 manures is, do I need them at present prices? Second, if 

 needed, how determine what is needed? Some buy what is 

 supposed to be a complete fertilizer for all plants. If they 

 get this, they get what is needed, and probably pay for much 

 that is not needed^ Some buy a complete fertilizer for the 

 special crop they wish to grow ; if they get this, they get 

 what is needed, and perhaps some that is not. 



The Connecticut farmers, undei* the advice and direction of 

 Prof. Atwater, of the Connecticut Experiment Station, are 

 finding out what their land needs, by experimental tests with 

 separate ingredients of plant food. By so doing, they are 

 cultivating their powers of observation, and reducing the 

 cost of fertilizing to the lowest point. 



Prof. Atwater says i "Chemists cannot prescribe for soils 

 as doctors do for patients." He also says : "Stable manure 

 is a complete fertilizer. It contains all the ingredients of 

 plant food, and its organic matter improves the mechanical 

 condition of the soil besides. , It is a standard fertilizer, and 

 useful everywhere. To learn by what artificial fertilizer this 

 can be supplemented, in any given case, is, as I have often in-^ 

 sisted, best settled by experience and experiment." 



Mr. Ware's experiments show that Darling's Animal Fer- 

 tilizer is much better for gi^owing corn on his land than the 

 Stockbridge ; also that the Stockbridge grew better onions 

 than stable manure. 



Mr. King's experiment shows that the Stockbridge Fertil-^ 

 izer works well on his land, and if he can continue to grow 



