148 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



by tillage he makes this available. I speak of this simply 

 to point out the fact that unless you have soil of this great 

 natural strength you cannot expect to obtain such crops as 

 he speaks of without using fertilizers more liberally. You 

 may know about what we are using at Amherst, about what 

 I in general reconmiend ; but, at the risk of bringing for- 

 ward a matter which it is quite unnecessary to speak of, I 

 may say that I have very great confidence in an annual 

 application of about the following materials per acre : basic 

 slag meal, 500 pounds, largely on account of its lime, also 

 because it is a cheaper source of actual phosphoric acid. 

 Phosphoric acid in slag can be purchased for about 3 cents a 

 pound ; it costs in acid phosphate in the neighborhood of 5 

 cents a pound. In the slag meal, 3 cents a pound is the cost 

 where jon reckon the acid to be the only element of value, 

 and allow nothing for the lime. If 3'ou make an allowance 

 for the lime, and deduct that, the actual cost of the phos- 

 phoric acid would l^e considerably lower than I have stated. 

 Basic slag meal, then, about 500 pounds, as a source of phos- 

 phoric acid and lime, and as a means of keeping the soil in 

 sweet and good condition. Then, potash at the I'ate of 

 about 150 pounds per acre, of high-grade sulphate, or 300 

 pounds of low-grade sulphate. I should say always on Mas- 

 sachusetts soils either the high-grade or the low-grade sul- 

 phate, rather than the muriate, if 3^ou wish to produce hay 

 rich in clover; if you wish to produce timothy to sell, use 

 the muriate. I know there is a great difference in the pro- 

 portion of these two species, according as you fertilize. 

 Taking a series of years together, you would be surprised at 

 the amount of difference. If you made the comparison for a 

 single year only, you might not see any considerable differ- 

 ence. If you continue such application of fertilizers as sug- 

 gested, you will soon bring your land into such condition that 

 it will produce a very superior grade of hay. But, in addi- 

 tion, I should generally apply about 150 pounds to the acre 

 of nitrate of soda. Professor Hurd has referred to their using 

 of 350 pounds in Rhode Island in some cases ; I believe it 

 is reported that they have found that even 400 pounds grew a 

 more profitable crop than any lesser quantity. How is this 



