1192 EARLE V. HARDENS URG 



Taft (1892) reported the comparative yields obtained by placing ferti- 

 lizer above and below the seed piece in a year of light rainfall. All plots 

 gave a gain of from 14 to 34 bushels per acre in favor of the applications 

 below the seed piece. Taft and Coryell (1894) reported on the same 

 test covering three years and using complete fertilizer on three varieties. 

 The results were all in favor of the application of fertilizer below the seed 

 piece, the gain being from 25 to 40 bushels per acre. Munson (1894) 

 compared the relative efficiency of applying fertilizer by the Rural-New- 

 Yorker trench system, in which the fertilizer is placed in mellow earth two 

 inches above the seed, with the method of applying it to the surface and 

 harrowing in. Not enough difference in yield was obtained to pay for 

 the extra labor of making the trench required in the former method. 



Rane and Hall (1904), replicating plots three times, compared yields 

 from fertilizer applied above and below the seed, both with and without 

 the use of stable manure. They obtained in all cases an average difference 

 of 18 bushels per acre in favor of the shallow applications. No mention 

 was made of the rainfall available that year. 



Van Slyke (1895), at the New York station, compared potato yields 

 grown under 1000, 1500, and 2000 pounds of fertilizer per acre, respec- 

 tively, applied both broadcast and 'in the drill row. In all cases in which 

 1500 pounds or less was used, the drill-row applications gave the better 

 yield by about 10 bushels per acre. When 2000 pounds was applied, there 

 was a difference of 17.5 bushels per acre in favor of broadcasting. This 

 difference was probably due to a slight injury to the seed pieces caused 

 by contact with the fertilizer applied in the drill row, for the stand in the 

 latter case was rather uneven. Rane and Hall (1904), using 1500 pounds 

 of fertilizer per acre, compared the yields obtained by applying all in the 

 hill with those from applying half in the hill and half broadcast. No 

 check plots, and only three plots altogether, were used, but a small yield 

 favoring the half-and-half method was obtained. The gain, however, 

 was due to a larger yield of culls under this method. Hall (1905), in 

 reporting the experience of the Rothamsted station, stated that phosphoric 

 acid and potash should generally be applied in drills, but that kainit 

 should be applied broadcast. Jordan and Sirrine (1910) compared these 

 two methods of application at three points on Long Island during the years 

 1905 to 1908, inclusive. Altho the differences were small in all cases, 

 there was an average gain of 3 bushels per acre in favor of the drill method. 

 Applications of 500, 1000, and 1500 pounds, respectively, were compared 

 under each method. Woods (1917), using 1000 pounds and 1500 pounds 

 of fertilizer, respectively, all broadcast, all drilled, and a part used either 

 way with the remainder applied after the crop was up, found differences 

 favoring the drill method but no greater than might be expected as within 

 experimental error. The greatest average difference between the two 

 methods, thru the years 1914 to 1916, inclusive, was 6 barrels in favor 



