40 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



most crops has always seemed to be peculiarly unfavorable. 

 Whether a similar result would be obtained in soils less highly 

 enriched is at present a matter of uncertainty, but I desire to 

 point out that in ray judgment, based not only upon the yields 

 of strawberries, which are not as large on the best of our plots 

 as are obtained in good practice, but also upon the growth and 

 development of the vines, flowers and fruit, the rate of use of 

 manure and fertilizer in Field C is much too high for the best 

 residts. The vines have been over-rank, the fruit has set rather 

 imperfectly and ripened poorlj^ 



Onions. — Comparison of the yields on the different plots 

 shows that none of the fertilizers used in connection with ma- 

 nure have apparently been beneficial. The combination con- 

 taining sulfate of potash and nitrate of soda has done best; but 

 the most significant point in connection with these results is the 

 distinctly unfavorable effect of the combinations which contain 

 sulfate of ammonia. The yield where this fertilizer is used is 

 much below that on the other plots. The onions where this fer- 

 tilizer is applied appear to stand practically still for a number 

 of weeks after germination. They become distinctly unhealthy 

 and many die. By midsummer the unfavorable influence dis- 

 appears, the remaining plants take on a rank growth, the to]is 

 are heavy, the necks of the bulbs are thick, and comparatively 

 few well-ripened bulbs are jiroduced. It is probable that a 

 heavy application of lime in connection with the sulfate of am- 

 monia will in large measure, perhaps altogether, correct the 

 faulty conditions which appear to be due to the use of this fer- 

 tilizer. 



IV. Relative Value of Diffet^ent Potash Salts. 

 The experiments comparing different potash salts were be- 

 gun in 18!KS. The following materials are under comparison: 

 kainit, high-grade sulfate, low-grade sulfate, muriate, nitrate, 

 carbonate and feldspar. There are 40 plots in all. Five have 

 received no potash since the experiments began. Each potash 

 salt is used on five different plots; in other words, there are five 

 series of plots. The crop during the past year was hay (mixed 

 timothy, redtop and clovers). The average yields on each treat- 

 ment are shown in the following table : — 



