1897.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 19 



still my belief, however, that under ordinary farm condi- 

 tions the '"'■ fertilizer richer in potash" would be found equal 

 at least to the " special," for under such conditions grass 

 and clover would alternate with the corn ; the clover, judg- 

 ing from facts almost universally noticed, would thrive 

 better where more potash had l)een used, and as a result 

 the soil would be enriched in nitrogen, which would ])e 

 ftivorable to the development of the succeeding corn crop. 

 In all of our ' ' soil-test " work the nitrogen has ranked next 

 to the potash in benefit to this crop. With a view to test- 

 ing the correctness of this conclusion, the land used for this 

 experiment has now been seeded to grass and clover, and 

 after two or three years will again be planted with corn. 



The average crop raised on the ' ' special " fertilizer this 

 year is Avorth $0.83 more per acre than the average for the 

 fertilizer richer in potash ; the fertilizer materials used cost 

 $0.52 more. There is no material difference, therefore, in 

 the financial outcome of the two systems under the given 

 conditions ; but, as above pointed out, should the farmer 

 purchase a manufactured ' ' sjiecial " coi'n fertilizer, it would 

 have cost him about $5.25 per plat, or $21 per acre, to pro- 

 cure equal amounts of the essential elements of plant food. 

 Since the '■'■ fertilizer richer in potash" cost $3.10 per plat, or 

 $12.40 per acre, while the crop was practically almost as 

 valuable as that produced on the " special," it follows that 

 here is a possible saving of almost $8 per acre in initial 

 expenditure. It is true that the materials recommended 

 require mixing, while the "special" fertilizer is already 

 mixed. It is not true that the elements of plant food in 

 the "special" are in better forms, or more available. In 

 conclusion, however, it is but fair to state that the prices 

 used in calculating the cost of the "materials" are cash 

 prices, while the price of the " special" is determined in a 

 measure by the fact that credit must often be given for 

 such goods. 



Hill V. Drill Culture for Corn. 



In each of the two experiments above described one-half 

 of each acre has each year been planted in drills and the 

 other half in hills. Plats 1 and 2 in each case have been 



