NEW MIXEILM^ FERTII^IZER. 5 



will ])c fertilized at the rate of eight cords of manure and 500 

 pK)uiids of fertilizer to the acre. One of the unfertilized plots 

 will Ije planted to sweet corn, the other to potatoes. One of the 

 plots manured with Mineral Fertilizer will be planted to sweet 

 corn, the other to potatoes. The plot with 1500 to 1800 pounds 

 of high grade fertilizer will be planted' to potatoes, and the one 

 with manure and fertilizer to sweet corn." 



PLANNING THE Experiment. 



Prior to the publication of Official Inspections 29 correspon- 

 dence was begun with the New England Mineral Fertilizer 

 and Chemical Company relative to the experiment outlined in 

 the preceding paragraph. Under date of January 2 the presi- 

 dent of the company wrote : 



"Yours of the 23rd at hand. We are more than pleased to 

 know that you have concluded to give us a fair show. We 

 shall ship you free of cost whatever amount of fertilizer you 

 desire for this .experiment. The same will be identical in analy- 

 sis with the product which we are to put out the coming sea- 

 son. You stated in your letter that you wished to make an 

 experiment on six plots. All that we ask is that you use an 

 equal number of pounds of our fertilizer in competition with 

 the best fertilizer that you can get on the market." 



January 3 the Director of' the Maine Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station wrote the New England Mineral Fertilizer and 

 Chemical Company as follows : 



"Your letter of January 2 is at hand. In the proposed test 

 of Mineral Fertilizer we shall use the equivalent of 360 pounds 

 of a high grade fertilizer carrying 4 per cent nitrogen, 8 per 

 cent of available phosphoric acid and 7 per cent of water solu- 

 ble potash. We will use the same amount of Mineral Fertilizei 

 or any amount which }-on will suggest. When you get read.v to 

 send the New England Mineral Fertilizer please ship it to th& 

 ]\Iaine Agricultural Exi:)eriment Station. Monmouth, IMaine, and 

 notify me at Orono of the shipment. I note your otter that you 

 will furnish this New England Mineral Fertilizer free. We, 

 however, are ready to pay for it. Kindly send bill when the 

 Sfoods eo forward to me here at Orono." 



