THE EXPERIMENT STATION 87 



XIII. Field experiments regarding the effect of differ- 

 ent combinations of commercial fertilizer on the yield of 

 some prominent garden crops (1892-1897) . 



Six plats of one-eighth of an acre each, known as 

 Field C (each 88 x 62 ft.), were laid out and treated with 

 50 pounds of phosphoric acid in the form of dissolved 

 boneblack, 60 pounds of nitrogen in the forms of ni- 

 trate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, or dried blood, and 

 120 pounds of potash in the form of muriate or high- 

 grade sulphate. 



The object of the experiment was to test dried blood, 

 nitrate of soda, and sulphate of ammonia, combined 

 with muriate of potash and high-grade sulphate of 

 potash. 



A number of rows of each of the following crops 

 were planted on each plat during the several years : 

 celery, lettuce, spinach, beets, cabbages, tomatoes, 

 potatoes, beans, onions, corn. In 1894-1895-1896, 

 onions, sweet corn, beans, and tomatoes constituted 

 the crops grown. 



As a result of his observations through 1896, he 

 draws the following conclusions : 



(1) Sulphate of potash, with nitrate of soda, has 

 given in every case (excepting onions) the best results. 



(2) Nitrate of soda as a nitrogen source has yielded 

 in almost every case, without reference to the source of 

 potash, the best results. 



(3) Sulphate of ammonia and muriate of potash have 

 given, as a rule, the least satisfactory results. The fact 

 is due evidently to the change of chloride of potash 

 and sulphate of ammonia into sulphate of potash and 



