AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 79 



FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS. 



Prof. Walter Balentine. 

 Effect of Differekt Forms and Mixtures of Fertilizers. 



In 1886 the Station commenced a series of plot experiments, 

 having for their object : (1) The comparative effect of different 

 forms of phosphoric acid in manuring crops ; (2) A comparison 

 between commercial fertilizers and stable manure in crop produc- 

 tion ; (3) The effect of partial as compared with complete fertili- 

 zers ; (4) A comparison of the effect of different quantities of 

 fertilizers. 



The soil selected for this work is a clay loam situated near the 

 southern boundary of the college farm. This field was laid off 

 into thirty-six plots, as shown in the diagram. Each plot con- 

 tains one-twentieth of an acre, being eight rods long by one rod 

 wide. They are separated by strips of land eight feet wide, 

 through which runs a ditch sufficiently deep to take off all sur- 

 face water. At the commencement of the experiment the ground 

 was in condition to produce a fair crop of grain. For further 

 information in regard to the state of cultivation of this field at 

 that time, see Station Report for 1886. 



