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prising an area of probably 200,000 square miles. These facts have ex- 

 isted too long and cover too much territory to be ascribed to local pecu- 

 larities of soil or season. The wheat grower knows that fertilizers pay. 

 But as brands multiplied the question arose which is the more profitable, 

 and many made simple tests of different brands in which the popularity 

 of the local agent received more consideration than the amount and kind 

 of plant food in the goods ; they obtained the confusing results that might 

 have been expected under these conditions. Better informed farmers ap- 

 plied to their experiment stations and agricultural colleges for aid, and 

 in most cases were surprised to be told either that commercial plant foods 

 did not pay or that they were unnecessary. 



An examination of the records of field tests conducted by experiment 

 stations in the winter wheat section shows that many experiments have 

 been made, especially on wheat, and that most of them have been reported 

 unprofitable. This apparent conflict between the results of practical and 

 scientific agriculture has to some extent prevented the extension of the 

 sale of plant food to territory where it was very much needed. One may 

 fairly inquire why the results of the experimental field tests differ so 

 widely from the results obtained in ordinary farm practice in the same 

 sections. 



First, we may consider certain things that are general in their nature. 

 Many experiments are reported where relatively heavy applications of 

 farm yard manure have been compared with applications of various brands 

 and quantities of fertilizers without any clear statement or apparent 

 knowledge of the composition of the latter. Such experiments are almost 

 invariably reported as showing that manure is more profitable than the 

 fertilizer, which is not strange in view of the fact that in the valuations 

 the full cost of the fertilizer is charged up, while to the manure is charged 

 only the cost of hauling. In such reports there is often a very clear inti- 

 mation that the result is quite in line with the preconceived notions of 

 the experimenter and that in discouraging the use of "expensive fertil- 

 izers" he is at least telling farmers what they like to hear even though 

 it conflicts with what they need to know. 



The method of application of the plant food is in many cases respon- 

 sible for a considerable part of the difference observed between field prac- 

 tice and plot experiments. Application with the drill at the time of sow- 

 ing small grains, which is the common method, frequently gives profitable 



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