94 
AMERICAS' AGRICULTURIST, 
[March, 
than this it will insure more rapid brood-rearing, 
and consequently greater returns, during the com¬ 
ing season. 
In winter, even under the most favorable condi¬ 
tions, many of the old bees will die and fall to 
the bottom of the hive. All dead ones should 
be brushed away ou the first warm day of spring, 
when the bees are permitted to fly. If movable 
bottom boards are used, we have only to raise the 
hive, and brush the bees aside. If the bottom board 
is nailed fast, the frames and bees should be trans¬ 
ferred to a clean hive. In removing hives from 
the cellar or winter house, let each colony be placed 
just where it was the previous season. Otherwise 
some bees may fail to return to the hive, after they 
fly out, and be lost. In spring some colonies may 
be very weak, with only enough bees to cover one 
or two frames. In such cases, crowd, by use 
of a division board, all the bees on one or 
two combs, and cover warmly. Add more 
frames as they increase. By this practice, the 
writer, in many years’ experience, never lost a 
single colony by “spring dwindling.” The above 
caution is very important. We ought not to expect 
that a mere handful of bees should be required 
to keep a whole hive warm ? 
Bee Pasturage. 
From the middle of March, and even earlier, in 
the far South, to the middle of April, is the time 
to attend to special planting for bees. As well re¬ 
marked by Mr. Coffinberry at the National Conven¬ 
tion, no subject connected with apiculture is more 
deserving attention. If each colony of bees in the 
four to six weeks of storing can give 100 lbs. of 
honey to the apiarist, what might be expected, 
could they be kept at work the whole season 
through? The great fall yield from autumn flow¬ 
ers, in Michigan and some other States, suggests 
the answer. The past season, in some sections, the 
autumn yield was more than all the rest of the 
crop. Yet such men as Doolittle, L. C. Root, and 
others, if we are rightly informed, get no autumn 
yield at all. Surely this matter of providing plants 
for bee pasturage is worthy of consideration. 
Road-side tree planting is attracting much atten¬ 
tion at the present time. Dr. Warder, of Ohio, 
and others, are giving the sub¬ 
ject their best thought and 
study. The Legislatures of 
some States encourage tree 
planting by appointing “Arbor 
days ”—days set apart for tree 
planting, and even by grant¬ 
ing homesteads, and exemp¬ 
tion from taxes to those who 
will devote time to this im¬ 
portant work. Why do not 
bee-keepers see to it that the 
valuable Maples, which fur¬ 
nish early pollen and honey, 
are accompanied by the still 
more valuable and equally 
beautiful Bass-wood, and Tulip 
tree—called Poplar at the 
South—and in regions where 
they will do well, the Sour- 
wood and Judas tree. Would 
not a little energy secure these 
trees at least in goodly propor¬ 
tions in the road-side tree 
planting ? No trees excel in 
beauty the Bass-wood and 
Tulip-tree, and the great 
amount and excellence of the 
nectar which they furnish is 
well known. It is wise in the 
matter of bee food, as else¬ 
where,to add as many “ strings 
to one’s bow ”as is possible. 
Every bee-keeper may well 
see to it that waste places 
along road sides by Railroads, 
etc., are covered with Figwort, 
Rocky Mountain Bee Plant, 
Spider Plant, Catnip, Mother¬ 
wort, and Melilot, or Sweet 
Clover This last is a most 
valuable honey plant, but 
some of our farmers ©bject to it as a trouble¬ 
some weed. How is this? Many who have tried 
it say it is not troublesome in the least. If a 
pest, why did Prof. Thorn, of the Ohio State Uni¬ 
versity, recommend it lately as a good forage plant, 
and as very desirable for green manuring ? 
Bee-keepers should also try to get farmers to sow 
Alsike Clover, even if they have to furnish the seed. 
It will pay both parties largely without doubt. The 
Mammoth Red Clover is also a good bee plant. 
As all bee-keepers well know, nearly all our 
plants fail in times of drouth. True the Mustards 
and Borage yield some honey, but not bountifully. 
Why should we not try to introduce the famous 
White Sage of California ? This plant owes its 
very existence to its power of resistance to drouth. 
We may try if it can be grown in the East, and 
what the result will be in yield of nectar. 
Let me urge bee-keepers not to allow the spring 
to pass without an effort to do something in the way 
of culture of special honey plants. 
A Farmer’s Experiments with Fertilizers. 
hY PROF. \V. O. ATWATER. 
The fertilizer experiments described from time to 
time in the American Agriculturist have now been 
carried on during five years, by farmers, professors 
in agricultural colleges, and well-known experi¬ 
menters in all parts of the country. From a large 
number of the reports of the experiments of 1881, 
I select one by Mr. Fairchild as an illustration of 
what an earnest, intelligent farmer may do. By 
these experiments Mr. Fairchild has put several 
direct questions to his soil, such as : 1st.—Do crops 
on my land demand more Nitrogen, or Phos¬ 
phoric Acid, or Potash, than the soil supplies ? 
2d.—In what quantities, forms, and methods, can 
I apply these fertilizing elements with profit, and 
which of them with the most profit ? 
This was done by applying to accurately measur¬ 
ed plots, carefully weighed quantities of the 
different elements, singly and in various com¬ 
binations, and noting the results, as partly in¬ 
dicated in the table herewith.—The fertilizers 
supplied Potash in Muriate of Potash; Phos¬ 
phoric Acid in Superphosphate (dissolved bone 
black); Mitogen iu the Nitric Acid of Nitrate of 
Soda, in the Ammonia of Sulphate of Ammonia, and 
as Organic Nitrogen iu dried blood; as well as in 
Peruvian Guano, which furnishes Nitrogen in sev¬ 
eral forms of combination ; and finally these and 
other ingredients combined in ashes and in differ¬ 
ent farm manures. 
Mr. Fairchild had for three years experimented 
with various materials and mixtures, including the 
“ American Agriculturist Set ” of eight, which sev¬ 
eral hundred farmers have tried in all the States 
east, and in some west, of the Mississippi, and 
in Canada,—In 1880 he undertook a series of 
“ Special Nitrogen Experiments, ” (described in this 
Journal, March 1881). He had already found that 
Phosphoric Acid and Potash brought profitable 
returns, but on what crops and to what extent 
Nitrogen would be advantageous seemed less 
certain. He selected an old “ worn out” pasture, 
laid out 25 plots of one-twentieth of an acre each, 
and applied the fertilizers as shown in the table. 
The first seven (1 to 7) of the series of fertilizers 
were essentially the same as the “American Agri¬ 
culturist Set,” Starting with the “Mixed Minerals” 
of No. 6 (consisting of Superphosphate, and Muri¬ 
ate of Potash, but containing no Nitrogen), in the 
succeeding numbers Nitrogen was added in ditier- 
ent amounts and combinations, as shown in the 
table, which by the way tells a great deal in small 
space to all who study it carefully. By using the 
same fertilizers on the same plots yeilr after year, 
through his regular rotation, Mr. F. is gaining 
definite information as to the effect, the cost and 
profit, of the more expensive ingredients of the 
fertilizers used, particularly of the Nitrogen. 
Mr. Fairchild’s Experience, anil what He has 
Learned. 
Here is a summary of some of his statements : 
“ _On the whole, Phosphoric Acid iu Super¬ 
phosphate and Bone, and Potash in Muriate, have 
thus far proved most efficient. At the same, time, 
in many cases at least, I like some Nitrogen also, 
EFFECTS OF NITROGENOUS FERTILIZERS. 
EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS AND POTATOES IN 1881. BY MR. CHARLES FAIRCHILD, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONN. 
SOIL.—Park Loam , loam sub-soil, moist—had oats in 1877, rye in ’78, grass in ’79, and ccrrn fertilized as below in ’80. 
Fertilizers. 
Kind and Amount per Acre. 
Yield. 
Increase. 1 
Cost 1 
Pei 
mniari 
6 Of 1 
ase. \ 
Rexult. 
Oats. 
Pota¬ 
toes. 
Oats. 
of fer-, 
p n1n tiliz'sg 
Pota- , pqfrt 
toes • V&c. 
Valu 
lucre 
Gain. 
Grain 
| 
Straw 
Grain 
Straw 
Oats. | 
Pota¬ 
toes. 
Oats. 
Pota¬ 
toes. 
bus. 
lbs. 
bus. 
bus. 
lbs. 
bus. 
$ cts. 
$ cts. 
;? cts. 
$ cts. 
J cts. 
(0 No Manure. 
26.9 
1,180 
28.0 
I 
.. 
1 Nitrogen Mixture, 150 lbs. 
38.1 
1,820 
42.0 
11.3 
627 
13.3 i 
6.00 
9.75 
9.98 
3.95 
3.98 
'i Superphosphate, 600 lbs. . 
33.8 
1,800 
56.0 
6.9 
GOT 
27.3 
6.00 
7.42 
20.48 
1.42 
14.48 
;j Muriate of Potash, 150 lbs. 
31.3 
1,720 
(50.0 
4.4 
527 
31.3 
8.75 
5.50 
23.48 
1.75 
19.73 
4 Nitrogen Mixture, 150 lbs., and Superphosphate, 300 lbs. 
51.9 
2,660 
94.7 
25.0 
1,467 
66.0 
12.00 
22.55 
49.50 
10.55 
37.60 
5 Nitrogen Mixture, 150 lbs., and Muriate of Potash, 150 lbs... 
42.5 
2,160 
68.0 
15.6 
967 
39.3 
9.75 
14.40 
29.48 
4.65 
19.73 
6 Sup.Phos.,300 lbs., and Mur.Pot., 150 lbs., “Mixed Minerals ” 
33.8 
2,280 
90.7 
6.9 
1,087 
62.0 
9.75 
10.30 
46.50 
0.55 
36.75 
7 Mixed Minerals <as No. 6.\ 450 lbs., and Nit. of Soda, 150 lbs. 
54.4 
3,500 
124.7 
27.5 
2,307 
96.0 
28.97 
72.09 
13.22 
54.25 
8 Mixed Minerals, 450 lbs., and Nitrate of Soda, 300 lbs. 
59.4 
3,860 
138.7 
32.5 
2,667 
110.0 
21.75 
33.83 
82.50 
12.13 
60.75 
y Mixed Minerals, 450 lbs., and Nil rate of Soda, 450 lbs. 
59.4 
4,380 
120.0 
32.5 
3,107 
91.3 
27.75 
36.52 
68.40 
8.77 
40.65 
Oil Mixed Minerals (as No. 6), 450 lbs. 
36.3 
1,760 
94.0 
9.4 
567 
65.3 
9.75 
8.56 
48.98 
1.19 
39.23 
OO 'No Manure.. 
27.5 
1.280 
122.7 
3 O Mixed Minerals, 450 lbs., and Nitrogen Mixture, 150 lbs. 
51.9 
3,140 
144.7 
25.6 
1,947 
94.0 
15.75 
25.43 
70.50 
9.68 
54.75 
3 1 , Mixed Minerals, 450 lbs., and Nitrogen Mixture, 300 lbs. 
55.6 
3,380 
144.7 
28.8 
2,187 
116.0 
21.75 
28.93 
87.00 
7.18 
65.25 
3til Mixed Minerals, 450 lbs., and Nitrogen Mixture, 450 lbs. 
i 59.4 
3,780 
110.0 
32.5 
2,587 
116.0 
27.75 
83.40 
87.00 
5.65 
59.25 
tf>b; Mixed Minerals (as No. 6), 450 lbs. 
83.8 
1.760 
135.3 
6.9 
567 
81.3 
9.75 
7.18 
60.98 
2.57 
51.23 
3 3 1 Mixed Minerals, 450 lbs., and Sulphate of Ammonia, 225 lbs. 
1 61.9 
3,700 
134.7 
35.0 
2,507 
106.6 
21.75 
34.29 
T9.95 
12.54 
58.20 
34-J Mixed Minerals, 450 lbs., and Dried Blood, 450 lbs. 
3,080 
133.3 
26.9 
1.887 
106.0 
21.75 
26.10 
79.50 
4.33 
57.75 
3 5 1 Peruvian Guano, 450 lbs., and Muriate of Potash, 150 lbs. 
54.4 
2.980 
96.0 
27.5 
1,787 
104.6 
21.75 
25.85 
78.45 
4.10 
56.70 
3 0 Mixed Minerals (.as No. 6 j, 450 lbs. 
35.0 
1,760 
29.3 
8.1 
567 
67.3 
9.75 
7.87 
50.48 
1.88 
40.73 
OOO \ No Manure. 
! 26.3 
1,120 
54.0 
.. 
A1 Hone, 150 lbs . . 
1 31.3 
1,680 
74.0 
4.4 
487 
25.3 
3 00 
5.33 
18.98 
2.33 
15.98 
33 ‘ Bone, 150 lbs., and Muriate of Potash, 100 lbs. 
1,960 
8.1 
767 
! -15.3 
5.50 
9.07 
83.98 
4.57 
28.48 
C! Same as 33, and Sulphate of Ammonia, 100 lbs. 
1 45.6 
1,980 
18.8 
787 
1 
10.75 
15.03 
4.28 
Explanations. —The Object of these experiments was to test the effects of Nitrogenous Fertilizers, in different amounts and 
combinations, upon the growth of the plants. The Fertilizers.— The ingredients and amounts of the fertilizers are such as are in 
ordinary practice, Phosphoric Acid and Potash being supplied in about the proportions that occur in a corn crop of 50 or 
00 bushels, and Nitrogen in one-third, two-thirds, and in the full amount in the same crop. Thus the 300 lbs. of Superphosphate 
furnished about 48 lbs. of Phosphoric Acid : the. 150 lbs. of Muriate of Potash about 75 lbs. of Potash. Forms of Nitrogen—The 
Nitrogen was supplied as Nitric Acid in Nitrate of Soda; as Ammonia in Sulphate of Ammonia, and as Organic Nitrogen in Dried 
Blood, and in a mixture of these in equal parts in “Nitrogen Mixture.” — Quantities of Nitrogen.— The Nitrogen was applied at the rate 
of 24 pounds per acre in “ one-third ration.” Nos. 1, 4, 5, 7, and 10 ; 48 pounds per acre in “ two-thirds ration,’ Nos. 8, 11, 13, 14, and 15; 
and 72 pounds per acre in “full ration,” Nos. 9 and 12. 
General Plan of Experiment _Nos. 1 to 6 are “partial” fertilizers, furnishing the ingredients each by itself, and two by two, thus 
testing their effects separately and the capacity of the soil.—Nos. 0, 6a. 6b. and 16. “Mixed Minerals," are duplicates, each furnishing 
Phosphoric and Potash (with Sulphuric Acid and Lime). — The others, from 7 to 15, are “complete fertilizers, each consisting of the 
“Mixed Minerals,” with Nitrogen added in “one-third,” “two-thirds,” and “full ration,” as above. — The plots were parallel strips eight 
square rods each. In 1880 corn was planted over the whole field. In 1881 the whole was divided into halves by a line crossing the plots, 
and one half devoted to oats and the other half to potatoes. Mr. Fairchild proposes to follow with wheat and grass, thus running the 
experiment through a regular rotation of several years, the same fertilizers being applied to the same plots year after year, while the 
crops succeed each other, as in his ordinary farm practice. The cost of the fertilizers includes $5.00 per ton for freight and applying. 
Potatoes are estimated at 75 cts. per bushel, oats at 55 cts., and oat straw at $12.00 per ton, which are fair rates for the region and season. 
