36 



has produced ten corn crops and six hay crops. To one-half the field, 

 which includes an acre of land, manure has been applied annually at 

 the rate of 6 cords per acre throughout the entire period, with the 

 following exceptions: it was left without manure in the years 1897, 

 1902 and 1905, and in 1898 the rate of application was 4 cords per 

 acre. These were years during which the field was in mixed grass 

 and clover, and all or a portion of the usual application of manure 

 was omitted, as experience indicated that the crops would lodge badly 

 should it be applied. On the other half of this field manure was applied 

 at the rate of 3 cords per acre in 1891 and 1892, and during the balance 

 of the time, with the exceptions noted below, at the rate of 4 cords 

 per acre. No manure whatever was applied in 1897, 1902 and 1905, 

 and in 1898 the rate of application was at the rate of 2 cords per acre. 

 In connection with the smaller quantities of manure used on this part 

 of the field, an annual application at the rate of 160 pounds per acre 

 of high-grade sulfate of potash has been made, except in the years 

 when no manure was applied. In these years the potash also was 

 withheld. We have in this field, then, an excellent opportunity to 

 compare the results of the two systems of corn raising, and the 

 averages to date are as follows : — 



On the large application of manure alone, the average rates of yield 

 per acre have been: shelled corn, 61.8 bushels; stover, 4,611 pounds. 



On the smaller application of manure, combined with the potash 

 salt, similar averages have been: shelled corn, 58 bushels; stover, 

 4,342 pounds. 



It will be noted that the yield on the larger application of manure 

 alone has been at the rate of 3 . 8 bushels of grain and a little over 250 

 pounds of stover greater than on the smaller application of manure 

 with potash. The hay crops have been slightly larger on that part of 

 the field recei\'ing the larger application of manure alone, the average 

 difference amounting to about 400 pounds in the first crop and a 

 little less than 300 poimds in the rowen crop. There has been con- 

 siderable difference in the feeding value of the hay produced under 

 the two systems of manuring. That produced on that portion of the 

 land recei\dng the lesser quantity of manure and potash has always 

 contained a materially larger proportion of clover, and must therefore 

 have had a higher nutritive value. On this point we have no definite 

 data. It is customary, in estimating the cost of crops, to figure 

 manure as costing about $5 per cord applied to the field. On this 

 basis, and charging the potash salt used at cost, the money difference 

 in the cost of the materials applied to the two parts of this field has 

 amounted to about $6.50 per acre annually. The crops produced on 

 the larger application of manure do not exceed those produced on the 

 smaller application with potash by a sufficient quantity to cover this 

 excess in cost. It is the writer's belief, based upon further experience 

 with other fields, that the products on that part of this field recei\ang 

 the lesser amount of manure and potash would have been materially 

 increased by the annual or at least occasional application of basic slag 

 meal, which would supply both phosphoric acid and a considerable 

 excess of lime, which would have proved of value in maintaining the 

 soil in that sweet condition which is essential for the best results with 

 the corn crop. It is the writer's con\'iction, therefore, based upon 

 extended experience, that it will prove the wiser policy on most farms 

 to use manure in raising the corn crop in rather moderate amounts, 

 supplementing it as above indicated by annual applications of basic 

 slag meal and a potash salt. It seems probable that manure at the 

 rate of about 4 cords, slag meal at the rate of 300 or 400 pounds, and 



