1881 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
139 
Samples of Field Experiments with Fertilizers, 1880. 
Exp’t No. Name. Soil. Previous Treatment. Weather. 
1 Geo Clendon, Jr.. Buckner’s Sta., Ya...Clayey loam,comp'tsubs’l.Worn out, abandoned land.Dry, favorable. 
4. Prof. J K. Page, University of Ya.Sandy, clay subsoil.Wheat.Cold, dry. unfavorable. 
8 R. P. Walcott, Holland Patent, N.T.Sandy, sandy subsoil.Old pasture..Warm, moist, very fay, 
9 J. W. Pierce, West Milford. Mass.Clay loam, clay subsoil.Same exp’eriment In 1879... Warm, dry. very fav’ble 
10 W. I Bartholemew. Putnam, Conn.Clay, compact subsoil.. •• " “ .... .Dry, favorable. 
17 Edward Hicks. Old Westbury, L. I.Sandy loam, loam subsoil...Pasture.Dry, very favorable. 
19 Wilbur Eliason, Chestertown, Md.Gravelly loam. cl. subsoil...Wheat.Warm, dry, favorable. 
20 and 26. M. II Dean. Falls Village, Conn...Cl. loam, gravelly subsoil. .Old meadow.Dry, favorable. 
21. J. M. Manning, Taunton. Mass....Sandy loam, sandy subsoil.Old meadow.Variable. 
27. A P. Arnold, Vineland, N. J.Sandy loam, gravelly clay. .Sweet potatoes.Dry. favorable. 
28. F. C. Gundy, Lewisburg, Pa.Gravelly..Corn.Warm, dry, very unfav. 
30. W. A. Benedict, Rrldgefield, Conn.Clayey loam, clay subsoil..Onions.. Warm, dry, unfav'ble. 
Number of Bag. 
Kinds and Amounts of Fertilizing 
Materials Applied to the Acre. 
Valuable Ingredients Applied 
pee Acre. 
to 
cs 
D 
■e® 
so; 
Cl 
3 
|3| 
o-I-tf 
rs 
E 
«j.S8 
I - F 
pig 
cs 
G 
iI.P : 
lb 
I v. ^ 
H 
00 
3 s 3'sf 
l a ife § 
§ 
g -S 
•2 Cl 
A! ?! « 
§ 22,3 
Cost per Acre+. 
$7.50 
$5.25 
$4.50 
$10,88 $10.13 
$9.75 | $15.38 
$0.80 
var’bie 
Yield per Acre.. 
CORN. 
Experiment No. 1 
Experiment No. 4 
Experiment No. 8 
Experiment No. 9 
Experiment No. 10 
Experiment No. 17 
Experiment No. 19 
Experiment No. 20 
bu. 
10.1 
16.5 
26.3 
23.4 
22.2 
46.8 
56.5 
61.7 
bu. 
10.3 
13.8 
18.7 
27.1 
20.1 
50.3 
62.8 
6.25 
bu. 
23.0 
33.8 
43.8 
34.0 
43.2 
60.4 
68.7 
7.23 
bu. 
12.1 
22.2 
21.9 
25.4 
24.7 
67.8 
64.2 
64.3 
bu. 
27.4 
36.7 
45.3 
38.3 
45.1 
60.3 
76.4 
67.0 
bu, 
2L8 
14.4 
2L0 
72.“ 
63.0 
66.0 
bu. 
23.1 
35.6 
46.3 
42.0 
52.8 
71.0 
68.6 
72.5 
bn. 
81.0 
33.8 
48.0 
44.8 
50.0 
70.0 
70.9 
76.0 
bu. 
2ilo 
23.8 
26.7 
58A 
68.0 
bu. 
22.9 
26.8 
bu. 
9.7 
15.9 
19.4 
35.7 
37.8 
61.8 
54.2 
67.0 
Average of 20 Experiments in 1880. 
Average of 73 Experiments , in 1878-80. 
32.1 
26.6 
35.2 
31.7 
43.2 1 87.1 
37.4 | 34.3 
46.8 40.3 
41.0 38.0 
47.5 
43.2 
48.1 
47.8 
89.8 
82.0 
46.6 
46.5 
pA’r* tofq 5 Experiment No. 21 
POTATOES. j Experiment No. 26 
Average of 22 Experiments, 1878-1880. 
29.0 
152.0 
28.0 1 68.0 
164.0 j170.0 
29.0 
155.0 
77.0 
166.0 
117.0 
28.0 
168.0 
104.0 
214.0 
127.0 
221.0 
40.0 
213.0 
90.0 
101.0 
127.0 
35.0 
166.0 
79 0 
89.0 ‘105.0 
104.0 
96.0 
136.0 
156.0 
SWEET POTATOES—Experiments No. 27 
Average of 5 Experiments in 1878 and 1880..... 
133.0 158.0 
152.0 
188.0 |172.0 
200.0 
208.0 
222.0 
204.0 
75.0 1134.0 
102.0 
164.0 123.0 
195.0 
165.0 
214.0 
60.0 
273.0 
OATS.—Experiment No. 28. 
20.9 
20.8 
22.5 
23.4 
23.2 
25.6 
27.2 
29.1 
27.8 
21.8 
Average of 3 Experiments , in 1878-1880. 
19.9 
20.7 
33.6 
19.7 
46.3 
86.7 
37.2 
24.1 
ONIONS.—Experiment No. 30. 
290.0 
530.0 
510.0 
680.0 
620.0 
50.1.0 
650.0 
610.0 
400.0 
390.0 
*In Experiments 10 and 17,150 lbs.—See same in table in last month’s article, t At market prices, 
plus $5.00 per ton for freight. 
[Explanation of Table. —The above table will repay careful study. Thus, for example, in Experi¬ 
ment 10, the 150 lbs. per acre of Nitrate of Soda, costing $5,621, brought no increase of corn; 300 lbs. of 
dissolved Bone-black (charred bones, superphosphated) added 21 bushels at a cost of $5.25. In this ex¬ 
periment and in No. 8, every plot, B, D, F, and G with Superphosphate gave good increase, while every one 
without it, A, C, E, and H, failed to do so. In No. 26, the mixture of 300 lbs. Superphosphate and 200 lbs. 
of Muriate of Potash, F, costing $9.75 increased the yield of potatoes by 85 bushels, while with the same 
materials plus 150 lbs. of Nitrate of Soda, making the “ complete ” chemical fertilizer, G, the yield was 
less. This last is very likely due to irregularity in the soil. In the average of 22 experiments with 
potatoes the yield with G, is 20 bushels larger than with F. In Nos. 4 and 20, none of the mixtures were 
profitable ; in No. 4, because of severe drouth; in No. 20, very probably because the soil itself was rich, 
i. e., had a good store of available plant food. Taking the average of the experiments for 1878-1880, the 
“ complete ” chemical fertilizer, G, brought the largest crops, excelling even the farm manures. The 
mixture of Superphosphate and Potash Salts, F, brought nearly as large yields of corn and about the same 
of potatoes as the farm manures. As to average profit, among the chemical fertilizers, the complete 
fertilizer paid best for potatoes, and the mixture of Superphosphate and Potash Salts for corn. In Ex¬ 
periment, No. 1, it is worthy of especial note that another plot on which Phosphoric Acid was supplied in 
finely pulverized S. C. Kock Phosphate, at the rate of 400 lbs. per acre, brought 29.1 bushels corn, against 
23 bushels with Superphosphate, the same with farm manure, and 31 bushels with the complete fertilizer. 
commercial fertilizers, are chiefly useful. 
Experiments were suggested in which the 
three ingredients named were to be used, 
each by itself ; two by two, and all three to¬ 
gether. Samples of the results are given in 
the table herewith presented. 
Soils Especially Benefited by Phosphoric Acid. 
In Mr. Bartholomew's com experiment, 
No. 10, every plot to which Phosphoric Acid 
was applied, brought a good crop, and every 
one without it failed. The Nitrogen and Pot¬ 
ash both increased the yield, but reckoning a 
bushel of com with its stalks at 80 cents, 
neither increased it enough to pay the cost. 
This experiment was a repetition of the same 
experiment of 1879, with the same fertilizers 
on the same plots. In 1878 a similar one 
was made on another part of the same field. 
In each of the three experiments, as like¬ 
wise in other trials, the crop has risen and 
fallen with the Phosphoric Acid, and paid 
very little heed to anything else. Mr. Bar- 
tholemew’s experiments, which have now 
continued for four years, covered nearly 100 
plots, and are among the most instructive 
ever made in this country, the testimony in 
favor of Superphosphate, and against the 
other materials for com is unanimous, but 
for potatoes, the complete fertilizer has prov¬ 
ed profitable. And for com, Superphosphate 
and farm manure together have brought the 
best results. In Mr. Clendon’s experiment, 
No. 1. and Mr. Wolcott’s, No. 8, the results 
with Phosphoric Acid are equally striking. 
Mr. Clendon’s experiment is of especial in¬ 
terest as showing that Phosphoric Acid is 
often more profitable in its insoluble and 
cheaper forms, (see foot note to table) than in 
Superphosphate. There are, however, many 
Soils which Respond well to Potash Salts. 
This is the case in Mr. Hicks’ experiment 
with com, No. 17, and in nearly all the trials 
with potatoes. I do not find so many strik¬ 
ing instances of great success with potash 
salts, and failure without them in the experi¬ 
ments of the season, as in previous years. 
The Complete Chemical Fertilizer. 
No. G. has brought by far the best results. 
It was generally the most profitable of all 
with potatoes, and often so with com and 
other crops. This mixture has not only 
brought larger yields than the farm manures, 
but has also proved more certain, in favor¬ 
able seasons and in cold, wet, and drouth. 
The Most Profitable Fertilizer 
of course depends upon the circumstances in 
each case. The material which brings the 
greatest gain in one case may bring the great¬ 
est loss in another. With Superphosphate 
numerous experimenters compute their gain 
at from $20 to $40 per acre, while others find 
large loss. With each of the other materials 
and mixtures the same is true to a greater or 
less degree. At the same time, cases in which 
none of the fertilizers were particularly use¬ 
ful are common. Indeed, these experiments 
illustrate very forcibly a fact which few 
farmers appreciate, namely : that there are a 
great many soils which will not pay for the 
use of artificial fertilizers, at least until they 
are better tilled, irrigated, drained, or other¬ 
wise improved. Taken all together, the ex¬ 
periments emphazize more and more strong¬ 
ly, year after year, the conclusions that: 
1. Soils vary widely in their capacities for 
supplying crops with food, and consequently 
in their demand for fertilizers. 
2. Some soils will give good returns for 
manuring ; others, without previous amend¬ 
ment, by draining, irrigation, tillage, or use 
of lime, marl, etc., will not. 
3. Farmers cannot afford to use- commer¬ 
cial fertilizers at random, and it is time they 
understood the reason why. 
4. The right materials in the right places, 
bring large profits. Artificial fertilizers 
rightly used, must prove among the most 
potent means for the restoration of our agri¬ 
culture. 
5. The only way to find what a soil wants, 
is to study it by careful observation and ex¬ 
periments. 
6. Success in farming, as in other business, 
requires the use of brains. 
Among the thousands of farmers who read 
the American Agriculturist, there are very 
many thoughtful, earnest, progressive men, 
and many who are interested in such tilings 
as I have been writing about. To these I 
should like to say two things : 
1. I most cordially second the proposal of 
the American Agriculturist concerning ex¬ 
periments the coming season, and hope that 
as many as can will undertake them. 
2. What individual, having the right spirit, 
may do in gathering up the facts that, 
taken together, make up the sum of 
our knowledge, the experiments, especially 
those described last month, clearly show. 
Such co-operative work, rightly done, will 
help much to throw light on the dark prob¬ 
lems of fertilization. To any who may be 
ready to join such work, I would recommend 
the Special Nitrogen Experiments described 
last month. With any such I shall be glad 
to correspond. W. O. Atwater, 
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. 
