38 



In the experiments to which reference has been made, the manure 

 employed has always been spread after plowing, and deeply worked 

 in by the use of the disc harrow. Fertilizers have in all cases been 

 applied broadcast after plowing, and harrowed in; and, wherever the 

 soil is in a fair condition of fertility, it is the writer's belief that these 

 methods of application are likely to prove most satisfactory. Hill or 

 drill application of fertilizers may, on the other hand, prove desirable 

 if the fertility of the field is relatively low. 



There is, of course, a possible question whether such results as have 

 been obtained in the fields referred to in Amherst will be obtained 

 under a similar system of using manures and fertilizers in other parts 

 of the State; but the experiments of the wTiter with corn in different 

 parts of the State tend to show that, while the rather liberal use of 

 potash salts which has been recommended may not prove in all cases 

 equally beneficial iu other localities as in Amherst, they will never- 

 theless in the majority of instances prove distinctly beneficial. Of the 

 three fertilizer elements, potash, nitrogen and phosphoric acid, potash 

 on the average in the experiments in different parts of the State has 

 increased the corn crop much more than either of the other elements. 

 In a series of experiments conducted in 1890, thirteen fertilizer experi- 

 ments wdth corn were carried out in different parts of the State, one 

 each in the counties of Essex, ^Middlesex, Pl^Tnouth, Bristol, Barn- 

 stable, Worcester, Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin and Berkshire. 

 The average increases in crops caused by the several fertilizer elements 

 were at the follo\\"ing rates per acre : — 



On one farm in Hadley, on the allu\aal soil of the Connecticut valley, 

 the potash gave an average increase at the rate of 48 bushels of shelled 

 grain per acre, nitrogen at the rate of 10 bushels, phosphoric acid at 

 the rate of 1 . 3 bushels. On a farm in Essex County, upon soil under 

 a sufficiently high state of cultivation to produce an average crop at 

 the rate of about 65 bushels per acre without manure or fertilizer of 

 any kind, an application of muriate of potash at the rate of 160 pounds 

 per acre gave an increase in the crop amounting to about 15 bushels; 

 nitrate of soda at the rate of 160 pounds increased the crop at the 

 average rate of only 4.7 bushels; phosphoric acid at the rate of only 

 1 . 4 bushels. In the light of these facts, it is believed that the farmers 

 of the State in raising corn will find it distinctly to their advantage 

 to see to it that the fertilizers used contain more potash than is common 

 in commercial corn fertilizers. The advantages of this practice will 

 show not only in the corn crop, but in the far better clover crops which 

 will follow. 



Planting the Crop. 



One of the first things to be thought of in preparing to plant the 

 corn crop is the preparation of the seed. Seed corn, as is generally 

 understood, keeps far more safely on the cob than shelled. It is not 

 best to shell long before the seed is to be used, although this, of course, 

 may be done provided the ears have been very thoroughly dried. The 



