IDOL] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 91 



KEPORT OF THE AGRICULTURIST. 



"WM. P. BROOKS; ASSISTANT, H. M. THOMSON. 



The work of the agricultural division of the experiment 

 station has been carried on during the past year upon the 

 same general lines as those which have been followed in 

 recent years. The usual variety of problems has presented 

 itself for experimental inquiry, and the work has been more 

 extensive than in any previous year. As in previous years, 

 a very large share of our attention has been directed to solv- 

 ing some of the many problems connected with the use of 

 manures and fertilizers. Our experiments in this line em- 

 ploy three distinct methods, viz., plot experiments in the 

 open field, experiments in cylinders plunged to the rim in 

 the ground, and pot experiments. The results of the last 

 two will not be discussed in this report. 



Plot Experiments. 



A considerable number of these has been carried out upon 

 our own grounds. On these, we have used one hundred 

 and sixty-five plots, varying in size from about one-fortieth 

 of an acre in case of some experiments to two or three acres 

 in others, the average size of the plots being perhaps about 

 one-tenth of an acre. Fifty-five plots have been used in 

 such experiments upon land hired for the purpose. The 

 nature of the experiments carried out upon these plots will 

 be made plain by the following statement : — 



To determine the relative value of barnyard manure, nitrate 

 of soda, sulfate of ammonia and dried blood as sources of nitro- 

 gen, and the extent to which the introduction of a crop of the 

 clover family can make the use of nitrogen unnecessary, — 

 eleven plots. 



To determine the relative value of nmriate and of sulfate 

 of potash used in connection with bone meal, — eleven plots. 



