58 FOOD FOR PLANTS 



Indian Corn (Maize) Experiments. 

 New York State, Seasons of 1918 and of 1919. 



Experiments in New York State carried on with 

 maize ensilage, or Indian corn, show that whilst the 

 return in value of the increased crop is not excessive 

 owing, no doubt, to the lateness of the fertilizer ap- 

 plication, notable crop increases were obtained. 



The late fertilizer application was used in this case 

 advisedly to check up this practice which is followed 

 by many farmers, and which is rather against our 

 general advice as to very late dressings of Nitrate. 

 Earlier applications on corn, we are confident, will 

 prove to be more profitable. 



Among interesting items secured are the yields of 

 protein per acre as tabulated in the following tables. 

 It is notable that the total ash mineral residue per 

 acre removed from the plot on which Nitrate alone 

 was used is less than on the check plot, and that the 

 exhaustion of phosphoric acid, potash and lime was 

 at a lower rate per acre on the Nitrate plot than on 

 the check plot. Notable also is the fact that the rate 

 of yield of protein was lower on the check plot and 

 also on the acid phosphate alone plot than on the 

 Nitrate plot. Protein is, of course, a factor of very 

 high food value for dairy stock. 



The results speak well for Nitrate not exhausting 

 soil fertility as to its mineral essentials. It confirms 

 the idea that soil exhaustion proceeds more rapidly 

 when no fertilizers are used as compared with their 

 rational use. 



