23 



conclude that the differences in respect to crusting must have been due 

 to a variation in the natural characteristics of the soil. 



EXPERIMENT WITH CORN. 



The results of this experiment are doubtless less satisfactory than 

 would have been the case but for the tendency to crust formation 

 reported by Mr. Comins on plots 4 and 5. Still the experiment is 

 instructive. The fertilizers used on plots 1, 2, 4 and 5 were the same 

 in kind as in the experiment with potatoes ; but the amounts used were 

 only one-half as great. 



The cost of the fertilizers applied to plot I was 18 cents. The 

 increase in crop was worth 38 cents. Here is a profit of 20 cents 

 which is at the rate of $4.00 per acre. 



The fertilizers used on plot 2 cost 20 cents. The increase in crop 

 was worth 65 cents. Here is a profit of 45 cents which is at the rate 

 of $10.80 per acre. 



The crop of grain on plot 4 was not equal to that on plot 3. The 

 weight of the stover reported is somewhat greater than on plot 3, but 

 this is perhaps because it was not equally dry. The fertilizers used on 

 plot 4 appear therefore to have been employed at a loss. 



The crop on plot 5 was worth 34 cents more than on plot 3. The 

 fertilizers used cost 28 cents. Here is a profit of 9 cents which is at 

 the rate of $3.60 per acre. 



Since there is no increase in plot 4 where no nitrate of soda was 

 used, while there is a considerable increase on all other plots on each 

 of which nitrate of soda was used, the experiment Indicates that it was 

 this constituent in the fertilizers which proved most beneficial. As the 

 increase on plot 2 where potash was used together with nitrate of soda 

 was greater than on plot 1 where dissolved bone-black was used with 

 the same amount of nitrate of soda, we might be led to conclude that 

 the potash also was beneficial and I believe that such was the case for 

 although the grain on plot 4 where potash and dissolved bone-black were 

 used was less than on plot 3, there was considerable increase in stover. 

 Numerous experiments have shown that the use of potash has more 

 effect in increasing the yield of stover than in increasing yield of grain, 

 so that this conclusion appears reasonable. Still the smallness of the 

 grain crop on plot 4 is an indication that the potash was without much 



