48 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



X. Top-dkessijng for Hay. 

 The experiments in the production of hay, by using in rota- 

 tion as top-dressing barnyard manure, wood ashes and a mixture 

 of bone meal and muriate of potash, have been continued during 

 the past year in the nine-acre field where these experiments 

 have been in progress since 1893. The average yield for the 

 entire area this year was at the rate of 5,853 pounds per acre. 

 The yields on the different materials used in top-dressing were 

 at the following rates per acre: — 



Pounds. 



Barnyard manure, ......... 5,641 



Fine ground bone and nuu'iate of potash, ..... 6,076 



Wood ashes, 5,523 



The crops this year were lighter than usual, as a consequence, 

 without doubt, of the marked deficiency in rainfall already re- 

 ferred to. The average yields to date under the different sys- 

 tems of top-dressing have been at the following rates per acre : — 



Pounda. 



Barnyard manure, 6,343 



Wood ashes, 5,789 



Fine ground bone and uuuiale of jjolash, ..... 6,159 



The average yield of the 9 acres from 1893 to 1910 inclusive 

 has been at the rate of 6,134 pounds per acre. The rates of ap- 

 plication per acre are: — 



1. Barnyard manure, . 8 tons. 



2. Wood ashes, 1 ton. 



I Ground bone, 600 i)ounds. 



^- \ Muriate of potasli, 200 pounds. 



XL Winter v. Sprincx Application of Manure. 

 The experiments in progress for the purpose of testing the 

 relative advantages of applying manure in the winter or in the 

 spring were begun in 1899. There are five pairs of plots. In 

 each pair the manure is applied to one plot some time during 

 the winter. At the same time sufficient manure for the other 

 and of the same quality is placed in a large heap, from which it 



