106 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



South Carolina phosphate, dissolved hone-black and Florida 

 phosphate. This result is similar to that of preceding- years. 

 The essential point to be noted in connection with these 

 experiments is, that while at first the dissolved bone-black 

 gave the largest yield, in the second year, even, the cheaper 

 natural phosphates exceeded it, and have exceeded it every 

 year since. No one will doubt that they will continue to 

 exceed it for several years if the land be left without the 

 further application of phosphates, for they have been used 

 (at the same cost) in two or three times greater amounts. 



Potash Fertilizers. 



The more important of these are sulphate of potash, 

 muriate of potash, kainit, potassium and magnesium sul- 

 phate and wood ashes, the latter supplying also phosphoric 

 acid. More recently a double carbonate of potash and 

 magnesia is being oft'ered from Germany. It is claimed to 

 be very superior for tobacco and fruit crops. This is the 

 same compound of potash which comprises the most valuable 

 portion of wood ashes. In all of the materials named the 

 potash is quite promptly availal^le ; a portion of that in the 

 ashes is the least so. At present prices the muriate of 

 potash is the cheapest source of this constituent, and it may 

 l)e safely used for most farm crops. My experience indicates 

 that for the potato the sulphate is superior, producing the 

 larger yield, and of superior quality. My method of judg- 

 ing of the quality was this. I had an assistant select 

 samples of potatoes raised on muriate and on sulphate. He 

 sent a peck of each kind to the families of President 

 Goodell and Professor Maynard, to my family, and took a 

 peck of each kind home to his mother. In each case none 

 of us knew what we were testing. The experiment was 

 continued three years, and as the result, in 1891 each family 

 said unhesitatingly that the potatoes raised on sulphate were 

 far better than the others, being more mealy, whiter and of 

 better flavor. The next year none of them could tell the 

 difference. This year they were unhesitatingly of the 

 opinion that the sulphate potatoes were much the best. The 

 seasons of 1898 and 1894 w^ere very dry. In dry seasons 

 muriate might produce potatoes of a very fair. quality, but 



