ILLITfOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATIOK. 37 



Wedto:sday, 9a.m. 



Convention met pursuant to adjournment, with largely 

 increased attendance. 



On motion, Topics Nos. 3 and 4 were consolidated; 

 both covering nearly the same ground, that of '' Fertilizers." 



, Dr. S. M. Slade was called for to open this discussion. 

 He had not prepared any paper upon this subject. Said 

 we should all understand chemical fertilizers better than we 

 do. His experience had been limited, and mostly by 

 observation. In Ontario County, IJ. Y., only twelve bushels 

 of wheat could be raised per acre, while in Virginia, thirty 

 miles from Washington, seventeen bushels could be raised, 

 from land in use over one hundred years; even better than 

 Genesee County. What did they use to get this yield ? 

 Simply about two hundred and fifty pounds of guano per 

 acre; the land produced enough more to doubly pay for the 

 guano. As to fruit-growing, he had only used the phos- 

 phates; none of them had ever paid, considering time and 

 expense. The dairyman could handle coarse manure better 

 than other farmers, as he kept more labor about him; with 

 ethers, who do not keep so much help on the farm, perhaps 

 concentrated fertilizers would be preferable, as much time 

 is saved in applying, and get returns the first season. 

 Believed chemical fertilizers, all considered, to be prefer- 

 able. 



Dr. J. Woodworth: Came as a pupil to learn. Often 

 one who knows the least talks the most; so he would be 

 careful. His experience with chemicals had been mostly 

 with salt. All land should be rotated. His principal 

 fertilizer was common barn-yard manure, and should be 

 composted and applied immediately in contact with the 



