A FERTILIZER EXPERIMENT WITH ASPARAGUS. 241 



There were three methods of applying the nitrate of soda, and the 

 results are decidedly in favor of the application in two portions, half in 

 spring and half in summer. 



Table IV. — Nitrate of Soda applied at Different Seasons in Addition to 



Mamire (Pounds). 



Manure with Low Application of Nitrate of Soda. 



Manure with Medium Application of Nitrate of Soda. 



Mariure with High Application of Nitrate of Soda. 



Spring, 



Summer, 



Half in spring, half in summer. 



102.0 

 94.2 

 104 3 



214.1 

 187.6 

 216.4 



400 

 373 3 

 423.2 



376.6 

 351.9 

 390.1 



A similar comparison of different quantities and methods of application 

 of nitrate of soda with chemicals instead of manure was made on plots 

 31 to 39. The yields on the minimum amount of nitrate were unquestion- 

 ably superior to those on the higher amounts. It has, however, been 

 pointed out that there seemed to be a lower state of fertility in this corner 

 of the field where the larger quantities of nitrate were used, and that plots 

 31 and 32 were in a strip of superior fertility. In this series there is a 

 slight advantage in favor of applying the nitrate in the summer at the 

 end of the cutting season, since in four years out of seven each of the 

 summer plots out-yielded slightly the others. The difference is not 

 enough to make it a rule to applj^ nitrate only in the summer. 



