agricultural experiment station. 

 Average. 



81 



No fertilizer. 



Dissolved bone black, containing phosphoric acid, 



C Dissolved bone black, I Containing phospho- ) 

 \ Muriate of potash, | acid and potash. J 



Dissolved bone black, 

 ' Muriate of potash, 

 . Sulphate of ammonia, 



Containing phospho- 

 ric acid, potash and 

 nitrogen. 



Fine ground bone, containing phos. acid and nit , 



Yield per Plot. 



lbs. 

 40.5 



41.5 

 92.5 



113.0 

 93.0 



lbs. 

 100.0 



99.5 

 173.5 



212.5 

 175.5 



lbs. 

 140.5 



141.0 

 266.0 



325 5 



268.5 



Yield per 

 Acre. 



1 G5 



bu. 

 10.6 



10.7 

 34.2 



30 



25.0 



lbs. lbs. 

 2000 2810 



1990 2820 

 34705320 



4250 6510 



I 

 3570 5370 



In these experiments the Complete Fertilizer, or bag No. 4, pro- 

 duced the largest crop. In three experiments none of the fertilizers 

 produced gains large enough to pay for the fertilizers. In seven 

 experiments bag No. 4 caused gains large enough to pay for the 

 fertilizers. In one case, that of the experiment by Mr. Shaw, bag 

 No. 3 was the most profitable fertilizer. 



In general, the complete fertilizers are the most profitable. 

 There are a few cases in which partial fertilizers are more 

 economical for the time being. 



FOODS. 



GENERAL EXPLANATIONS. 



The general object of the analyses and experiments which have 

 been undertaken during 1887 and 1888 was to make progress in 

 ascertaining the comparative composition and digestibilit}' of the 

 cattle foods that are available for use by Maine farmers, and to test 

 in a practical manner the eflSciency and economy of certain combi- 

 nations of food ingredients in the production of milk and meat. 



The composition of our principal cattle foods of American pro- 

 duction is now quite well known, and yet it is very evident that to 

 this, and especially to the digestibility of our fodder plants, more 

 study should be given. If we except timothy and the clovers, only 

 a few analyses have been made of our hay producing plants, while 



6 



