Maine Agricultural Experiment Station. 1917. 



119 



These results indicate that the best yields are obtained 

 when all or a large part of the fertilizer is applied in the planter. 

 The results this year are much more marked than in the 2 pre- 

 ceding- years. In fact, the results of the first two years indi- 

 cated that there was little to choose between the methods so far 

 as yield was concerned. 



The yield of merchantable potatoes stated in barrels for the 

 three years is given in the table that follows. 



MetJiod of Applying Fertiliser 1914, 1915 and ipi6. 

 Yield in Barrels per Acre. 



Method 



1914 



1915 



191G 



Average 



1500 pounds in planter 



lOOD pounds in plantar, 500 pounds 



when up 

 1000 pounds broadcast, 500 pounds 



when up 

 1500 pounds broadcast 



131 

 124 

 123 



109 

 113 

 109 

 113 



144 

 140 

 130 

 131 



128 

 122 

 121 

 122 



From these results it seems quite clear that fully as good, 

 if not better, yields are obtained by applying all of the fertilizer 

 in the planter. As this method is much cheaper and more con- 

 venient than any of the others it is the one to be recommended. 

 It seems that at least up to 1500 pounds per acre nothing is to 

 be gained either by broadcasting fertilizer before planting or by 

 applying a part at the first cultivation. 



SALT AS A FERTILIZER 



In the experiments with oats (page 109) and potatoes (page 

 111) salt was used in connection with nitrogen and phosphoric 

 acid without potash. No decisive results were obtained. 



In cooperation with the county demonstrators in Hancock 

 and Washington Counties, salt was tried on grass, potatoes 

 and turnips. An experiment with M. S. Lyons of Calais on 

 grass showed no effect from the use of salt in top dressing. Ex- 

 periments with I. R. Sprague of Princeton, John Grasse at Lubec 

 and Fred A. Tyler at Prescott with potatoes gave on the whole 

 a slightly smaller yield in the plots where salt was applied than 

 where there was no application. In case of Mr. Tyler, he had 



