36 



Much more elaborate experiments were planned for 1887 and 1888, 

 plots being secured for the purpose on the farms of Mr. Andrew Mc- 

 Murray and Mr. George Corson, near Tonti, in Marion county. These 

 plots, properly subdivided, were treated in September 18.^7, (1) with 

 stable manure, (2) with phosphates, (3) with potash, (4) with stable 

 manure and phosphates, (5) with stable manure and potash, (6) 

 with phosphates and potash, and (7) with all three of these fertili- 

 zers together, (8) with sulphate of ammonia alone, (9) with 

 ammonia and potash, (10) with ammonia and phosphates, and (11) 

 with ammonia, phosphates, and potash combined. The grain was 

 all heavily infested by the chinch bug, but the general winter- 

 killing of the wheat, leaving a very light and unequal stand, so 

 far destroyed the value of these experiments that they are not 

 worthy of detailed description. 



A critical comparison of the plots on Mr. Corson's land, made 

 January 29, after the grain was ripe, gave the following general 

 results, of value only as indications of the direction in which 

 future experiments may best be made: — 



1. The plot, (one tenth of an acre) treated with phosphates 

 alone (200 pounds to the acre)* bore about twice as much wheat 

 as that treated with potash alone, and the growth was taller, 

 stronger, and more thrifty. 



2. The addition of potash to the phosphates made no appre- 

 ciable difference in the appearance of the grain. 



3. I could not see that the plot treated with potash alone 

 differed especially from the plots on which nothing was used. 



4. That on which ammonia was applied alone was but little 

 better than the potash plot. 



5. That on which ammonia and potash were combined (200 

 pounds each to the acre) bore probably twice as much wheat as 

 either plot where these were separately used. 



6. The plots with ammonia and phosphates combined were de- 

 cidedly and conspicuously the best of the lot, — a difference easily 

 seen at a distance, and to their very margins. There was proba- 

 bly three times as much wheat on these as on the ground adjacent, 

 which had not been fertilized. The wheat was also clearly heavier. 



From the above it appears, as a matter of judgment, but not 

 of exact experiment, that neither potash nor ammonia alone was 

 of much value on the soil as a fertilizer for wheat attacked by 

 chinch bugs, but that the two combined about doubled the crop; 

 that phosphates alone produced a noticeable effect; and that am- 

 monia and the phosphates formed the best combination for wheat 

 under the circumstances there appearing, potash adding little or 

 nothing to the value of this combination. 



Timothy seed had been sown on all three plots in fall, but grew 

 poorly on most, owing chiefly to the chinch bug damage. The 



•Thin wafl the ration of each of the commorclal fortllizerH, wherover appllod. 



