26 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



Injurious Effect of Sulphate of Ammonia and Muriate 

 of Potash used together. — Particular attention is called 

 to the fact that upon Plot 1, where sulphate of ammonia 

 and muriate of potash are used together, the growth was, in 

 the case of the peas and l)eets, decidedly inferior to that 

 upon the other plots. This inferiority may undoubtedly be 

 ascribed to the poisonous effect of the chloride of ammonia 

 formed where these fertilizers are used together, to which 

 Dr. Goessmann has called especial attention. 



Experiments on Grass Land. 



The system of manuring grass lands, planned by Dr. Goess- 

 mann and described by him in previous reports, has been 

 continued. According to this system, the land receives one 

 year a dressing of barn-yard manure at the rate of 8 tons 

 per acre ; the next year, wood ashes at the rate of 1 ton per 

 acre ; and the third year, ground bone 600 pounds, and 

 muriate of potash 200 pounds, per acre. 



Plot 1, which this year received ashes, gave a yield at the 

 rate of 5,775 pounds of hay and 3,204 pounds of rowen per 

 acre, — a total of 4 tons 979 pounds. Plot 2, which re- 

 ceived manure applied in the fall of 1896, produced at the 

 rate of 5,784 pounds of hay and 2,627 pounds of rowen per 

 acre, — a total of 4 tons and 411 pounds. Plot 3, which 

 this year received bone and potash, produced at the rate of 

 6,183 pounds of hay and 2,755 pounds of rowen per acre, 

 — a total of 4 tons 938 pounds. 



This system of using these different manures for grass 

 lands in rotation has much to recommend it. It is simple, 

 and has certainly given remarkably good crops. I believe, 

 however, that the system would be improved by the use of 

 a little nitrate of soda, say 150 pounds per acre, with the 

 ashes as well as with the bone and potash. 



Experiments with Nitragin, a Germ Fertilizer. 



Nitragin, prepared according to the directions of Profes- 

 sor Nobbe, was imported at my suggestion from Germany 

 in the summer of 1896. The material was fully described 



