liv INTRODUCTION. 



The following table gives the results of the experiments : 



Table showing the results of experiments on Indian corn near Rochester, New York. 



The superphosphate of lime was formed especially for these experiments, and was a pure mineral 

 manure of superior quality, made from calcined bones; it cost about two and a half cents per pound. 

 The sulphate of ammonia was a good commercial article obtained from London at a cost of about 

 seven cents per pound. The ashes were made from beech and hard maple (acer saccharinum) wood, 

 and were sifted through a fine sieve before being weighed. The guano was the best Peruvian, costing 

 about three cents per pound. It was crushed and sifted before using. In sowing the ashes on plot 7 

 an error occurred in their application, and for the purpose of checking the result, it was deemed 

 advisable to repeat the experiment on plot 10. 



On plot 5, with 300 pounds of superphosphate of lime per acre, the plants came up first, and 

 exhibited a healthy, dark-green appearance, which they retained for some time. This result was not 

 anticipated, though it is well known that superphosphate of lime has the effect of stimulating the 

 germination of turnip-seed, and the early growth of the plants to an astonishing degree ; yet, as it has 

 no such effect on wheat, it seemed probable that it would not produce this effect on Indian corn, which 

 in chemical composition is very similar to wheat. The result shows how uncertain are all specula 

 tions in regard to the mammal requirements of plants. This immediate effect of superphosphate of 

 lime on corn was so marked that the men (who were at the time of planting somewhat inclined to be 

 skeptical in regard to the value of such small doses of manure) declared that &quot; superphosphate beats 

 all creation for corn.&quot; The difference in favor of superphosphate at the time of hoeing, was very per 

 ceptible even at some distance. 



Although every precaution deemed necessary was taken to prevent the manures from mixing in 

 the hill, or from injuring the seed, yet it was found that those plots dressed with ashes and guano, or 

 with ashes and sulphate of ammonia, were injured to some extent. Shortly after the corn was planted 

 heavy rain set in and washed the sulphate of ammonia and guano down into the ashes, and mutual 

 decomposition took place, with more or less loss of ammonia. In addition to this loss of ammonia 

 these manures came up to the surface of the ground in the form of an excrescence so hard that the 

 plants could with difficulty penetrate through it. This is a fact which should be borne in mind in 



