1891 
23 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
clerk, assuming entire charge of that department of the 
business. Mr. White’s early education was limited owing 
to ill health and duties on the farm, but he has always 
had a thirst for knowledge, which he is endeavoring to 
satisfy in the only way now open to him, and in company 
with his wife has just finished the second year in the 
C. L. S. C. course. If any of the readers of The Rural 
would care to visit Mr. White’s farm I can bespeak for 
them a pleasant time at his home, which is shown in Fig. 
11. A glance at Mr. White’s countenance; Fig. 12, shows 
one of the brightest and most expressive faces that has 
been added to our picture gallery in a long time. 
Livingston County, N. Y. edward f. dibble. 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
The Limit of Profit With Fertilizers. 
The effects of increasing quantities of high grade 
potato fertilizers on land more or less impoverished. 
The question assumed to be answered as to The 
R. N.-Y.’s experiment plots, and the experiments will 
be discontinued. The answers given may just as well 
be put to and answered by the soil of any farm in the 
land. 
What amount of potato fertilizer can I use profitably on 
my land for this crop? By potato fertilizer is meant that 
which is sold as such by leading fertilizer manufacturers, 
costing from $40 to $45 per ton; and analyzing about four 
per cent of nitrogen, 10 per cent of phosphoric acid and 
seven per cent of potash. It is a question which a farmer 
must answer for himself, and that the question may be 
answered it has been the object of these experiments to 
show. The experiment laud, as has been shown, needs all 
kinds of plant food. Nothing less than a “complete” potato 
fertilizer will materially increase the crop. For example, 
if the above fertilizer be deprived of either potash, nitro¬ 
gen or phosphoric acid, no matter in how great quantities 
the remainder is applied, no material increase in the crop 
will be given. This is true of this particular land. Upon 
other farms, any one or two might increase the yield as 
much as if all were used, in which case the cost of the 
omitted ingredients would be saved. Whether special or 
complete fertilizers will, prove more profitable depends en¬ 
tirely upon what the land needs, and this vital question is 
what each farmer must answsr for himself. 
The trenches were dug about a foot wide and four Inches 
deep, as inmost of the potato experiments herein recorded. 
The seed pieces were placed in the bottom, exactly a foot 
apart, and lightly covered with soil, and the various quan¬ 
tities of fertilizers, as stated in the following tables, were 
evenly strewn in the trenches. The fertilizer used in this 
series of experiments was the “ Stockbridge Potato 
Manure,” the analysis and cost of which are approxi¬ 
mately given above. The variety planted was the Rural 
Blush. 
FIRST SERIES. 
No. 1.—220 pounds to the acre. The yield was at the rate 
of 276.83 bushels to the acre. 
No. 2 —440 pounds of fertilizer to the acre. Yield 330 
bushels to the acre. 
No. 3.—880 pounds of fertilizer. Yield 397.83 bushels to 
the acre. 
No. 4.—Natural soil. The yield was at the rate of 163.16 
bushels to the acre. 
No. 5.—220 pounds of fertilizer to the acre (duplicate of 
No. 1.) The yield was at the rate of 245.66 bushels to the 
acre. 
No. 6.—440 pounds of fertilizer to the acre (duplicate of 
No. 2.) The yield was 370.33 bushels to the acre. 
No. 7.—880 pounds of fertilizer to the acre (duplicate of 
No. 3.) The yield was at the rate of 476.66 bushels to the 
acre. 
Averaging the two separate trials we have: 
220 pounds fertilizer.Yield, 261.24 bushels. 
440 “ “ “ 350.16 
880 “ “ “ 437.24 
Natural soil. “ 163.16 “ 
It appears, then, that 220 pounds of this fertilizer strewn 
in the trenches, as above explained, increased the yield 
over the unfertilized soil at the rate of 98 bushels to the 
acre : 440 pounds, 187 bushels; 880 pounds, 274 bushels. 
The above experiments show that thus far 880 pounds of 
the fertilizer may profitably be used to the acre. How 
much more than that amount can be profitably used will 
be shown in the next trials, in which the comparative re¬ 
sults of stable manure are also given. The promise of the 
yields, as judged by the growth and appearance of the 
vines, is shown by ratings made by two persons, June 27. 
Ten (10) as in the trials previously reported, was fixed as 
the highest rating. 
Plot 1.—Rated Judo 27 (220 pounds fertilizer).4 
2. ” “ 440 “ “ 6 
3. “ “ 880 “ “ 8 
4. “ “ 000 “ “ 2 
Duplicates. 
Plot 5.—Rated June 27 (220 pounds fertilizer)_5 
6. “ “ 440 “ “ 7 
7. “ “ 880 “ “ 9 
Sulphate of Iron Harmful. 
In this experiment, Williams, Clark & Co.’s Potato Fer¬ 
tilizer was used, the minimum guaranteed analysis being 
ammonia, four per cent, soluble phosphoric acid, five per 
cent, potash, eight per cent. The plats, as will be seen by 
the no-manure yields, were more fertile than those of the 
preceding trials. 
No. 1 received at the rate of 19,800 pounds of New York 
stable manure per acre. The yield was at the rate of 328.16 
bushels to the acre. 
No. 2 received neither manure nor fertilizer. The yield 
was 212.66 bushels to the acre. 
No. 3 received 440 pounds of the potato fertilizer. The 
yield was 245.66. 
No. 4 received 880 pounds. The yield was 330 bushels. 
No. 5 received 880 pounds of the potato fertilizer and at 
the rate of 440 pounds to the acre of sulphate of iron. The 
yield was 309.83 bushels to the acre. 
No. 6 received 1.320 pounds of the potato fertilizer. The 
yield was at the rate of 388.66 bushels to the acre. 
No. 7 received 1,320 pounds of the potato fertilizer with 
440 pounds of the sulphate of iron. The yield was 379.20 
bushels. 
No. 8 nothing. Yield 264.00, the highest yield ever made 
in this particular soil without manure or fertilizer. 
No. 9 received 1,760 pounds of the potato fertilizer. 
Yield 443.66. 
No. 10 received 2,200 pounds to the acre of the potato 
fertilizer. The yield was nearly the same as No. 9, viz., 
443 bushels. 
No. 11 received 2,640 pounds. The yield was 480.33. 
No. 12 received at the rate of 880 pounds of the potato 
fertilizer and also 220 pounds of ground fish, 660 pounds of 
kainit, 440 pounds of bone flour and 440 pounds of nitrate 
of soda—2,640 pounds to the acre in all. With this ex¬ 
cessive application of all kinds of plant food, but especially 
of nitrogen, the yield was 361.16 bushels to the acre. 
In this experiment the yield is profitably increased by 
this fertilizer up to 1,760 pounds to the acre. The tabu¬ 
lated figures are: 
440 pounds fertilizer.245.66 bushels 
880 “ “ 330.00 
1 320 “ “ .388 66 
1,760 “ “ .443 66 
2,200 “ “ .443 00 “ 
2,640 “ “ .480 38 “ 
That No. 8 without any fertilizer should have yielded 
more than No. 3, which received 440 pounds to the acre, 
cannot be accounted for. That 2,200 pouuds gave no greater 
yield than 1,760 pounds, while 2,640 pounds largely in¬ 
creased the yield over either is also inexplicable. 
The copperas decreased the yield in both trials. 
As in the previous trials of the several plats, as judged 
by the growth and appearance of the vines, the promise of 
yield is shown by ratings made by two persons .Tune 27, 
ten (10) being the highest. 
No. 1.—Rated 
5. 
.1,980 stable manure. 
“ 2.— “ 
3...... 
.Nothing. 
“ 3.— “ 
4. 
“ 4.- “ 
5. 
.880 
“ 5— “ 
6. 
.880 
“ 6— “ 
8. 
.1,320 
“ 7.— “ 
8. 
) 1,320 
1 440 sulphate of iron. 
“ 8.— “ 
3. 
“ 9.— “ 
10. 
.1,760 fertilizer. 
“ 10.— “ 
10. 
.2,200 
“ 11.— “ 
10. 
.2,640 
“ 12.— “ 
8. 
.2,640 mixed fertilizer. 
The soil on which the following experiments have been 
carried on for the past two years is so impoverished that 
the yield by the most careful trench culture without fer¬ 
tilizer will not average 150 bushels of potatoes to the acre, 
while paying crops Cf corn or vegetables of any kind, are 
out of the question. Fertilizer has been used from 400 to 
2,200 pounds to the acre for two seasons on this particular 
plat, and for four seasons on two other fields, as above 
noted, and the results have been essentially the same, 
whether the weather has been wet or dry. The variety 
was the Rural Blush. The season .the wettest ever known. 
First Series. 
Bushels per acre. 
Plot 1.—Natural soil.161.33 
2. — 440 pounds fertilizer.190.66 
3. — 880 ” “ .212 66 
4. -1,320 “ “ 278.66 
5. -1,760 “ “ .830 00 
6. -2,200 “ “ 308.00 
Second Series. 
7. —Natural soil. 154 00 
8 — 440 pounds lertilizer.187.00 
9.— 880 “ “ 216.33 
10. -1,320 “ “ .245 66 
11. -1,760 “ “ .297 00 
12. -2,200 “ “ .330 00 
Third Series. 
13. —Natural soil.117.33 
14— 440 pounds fertilizer.128.33 
15— 880 “ ” .198 00 
16— 1,320 “ “ 282.33 
17.-1,760 “ “ 300.00 
18 -2,200 “ “ .344 66 
Fourth Series. 
19. —Natural soil.146 66 
20. — 440 pounds fertilizer.155.00 
21. — 880 “ “ .238 33 
22. -1,320 *' “ .304 33 
23. -1,760 “ “ .249 33 
24. -2,200 “ “ 863.00 
AVERAGES. 
Natural soil.144.00 
440 pounds fertilizer.168.00 
880 “ “ .216 00 
1,320 “ “ 278.00 
1,760 “ “ .294 00 
2,200 “ “ 336.00 
Rot prevailed more than ever before. The rotten pota¬ 
toes were not estimated. The vines were injured by the 
flea-beetle, and died nearly one month earlier than usual. 
The tubers seemed to be about three-quarters of the normal 
size. 
It would seem that farmers cultivating impoverished 
land should learn a valuable lesson from these experiments 
which have been conducted long enough to prove that 
there is a reasonable chance of raising profitable crops of 
potatoes by t e liberal use of high-grade fertilizers. The 
guaranteed analysis of the fertilizer used (Mapes’s Potato 
was as follows :—Ammonia 4>£ per cent; phosphoric acid 
8 to 10 per cent; potash 6 to 8 per cent. 
Another Season's Trial on the Same Plots. 
Yielded at the rate per 
acre of 
Bushel*. 
Plot 30.— 220 pounds . 258.50 
36— 220 “ . 205 33 
40 — 220 “ . 172 33 
31. — 440 “ . 298 83 
37 — 440 “ . 253 00 
41.— 440 “ . 253.00 
32. — 880 “ . 282 33 
38 — 880 “ . 227 00 
42 — 880 “ . 231 00 
33. -1,320 “ . 228 16 
44.-1 320 “ . 242.00 
34. —1 760 “ . 280.00 
39.—1 760 “ . 242 00 
43.— 000 “ . 161.33 
35. - 000 “ . 132 00 
SUMMARY. 
The average crop of the plots that did not 
receive any fertilizer was at the rate per 
acre of. 
220 pounds gave. 
440 “ “ . 
880 “ “ 
1,320 » “ .; ;. 
1,760 “ “ . 
146 66 
212 05 
268 28 
246 78 
285 08 
261.00 
The variety planted was the Rural Blush. Some of the 
vines were greatly, some lightly, and a few not at all in¬ 
jured by the flea-beetle. 
The fertilizer used was the Stockbridge Potato. 
On An Adjacent Plot. 
These trials as to the effects of increasing amounts o 
fertilizer were again carried on during the past season- 
1890, The season was remarkable for the amount and fre¬ 
quency of rainfall and for comparatively few potato beetles. 
Flea beetles were less numerous and blight less destruc¬ 
tive than during the two preceding seasons. The plots had 
never (so far as the writer can ascertain) received any 
manure or fertilizer of any kind prior to the last three 
years when these potato experiments were begun on this 
particular land. The soil is variable, being in parts a stiff 
clay while in other portions it is more of a loamy character. 
Mapes’s Potato Fertilizer, the analysis of which has been 
given, was used in quantities at the rate of from 220 to 1760 
pounds to the acre. 
The trenches and culture given were the same as in pre¬ 
ceding trials—the variety the Rural Blush. 
Bushels. 
Plot 
1.— 220 pounds to the acre. Yield... 
6. 220 “ “ “ “ 
.. 156. 
.. 139. 
2. 440 “ 
.. 187. 
7. 440 “ “ “ 
.. 176. 
3. 880 “ “ 
.. 229 16 
8. 880 “ “ “ 
.. 210.83 
4. 1,760 “ “ " 
.. 313. 
9. 1,760 “ 
.. 298 80 
5. Nothing 
AVERAGES. 
.. 196.16 
Bushels. 
000- 
—No fertilizer 
196 16 
220 
pounds fertilizer gave per acre. 
...147 50 
440 
...181.50 
880 
<« *« it it ii 
.. .219.99 
1,760 
“ a «t <. ti 
...305 90 
TOTAL AVERAGES OF THE ENTIRE SERIES. 
Bushels. 
No fertilizer yielded per acre.187 77 
220 pounds fertilizer yielded.206 93 
440 “ “ “ .212 72 
880 “ “ “ .290. 
!.820 .“ “ “ .317 25 
1.7130 “ “ “ .326 14 
10 tons (nearly, viz , 19,800 lbs.) stable mnnnre 
yielded... 328 16 
30 tons stable manure in a less favorable 
season yielded.247.50 
Average of stable manure.287 83 
In what way is our friend, the reader, to turn the above 
extended series of experiments to his own advantage f 
Were his land the same he would naturally reason in this 
wise: “The natural soil, I find, may be relied upon to 
give 188 bushels to the acre. To be on the safe side I will 
estimate their market value at 50 cents per bushel. That 
would give $94 worth of potatoes to the acre. Now 220 
pounds of fertilizer, costing $4.40, (or $40 per ton) give an 
increase of 19 bushels, which at 50 cents the bushel are 
$9.50. I am a gainer, for the use of the fertilizer of $9 50 
per acre, less $4.40 or $5.10 per acre. If I use 440 pounds of 
fertilizer I am, by the same figuring, a gainer of $27 50. If 
I use 880 pounds of fertilizer, I gain $51; 1,320 pounds, 
$64.50; 1,760 pounds, $69—not to consider the advantages 
which will accrue to succeeding crops by this excessive ap¬ 
plication.”* 
But the chances are largely against the assumption that 
his land is the same, or so nearly the same that he would 
be safe in adopting the above conclusions to work upon. 
There is not one to advise him whether he should proceed 
differently. Analysis of his soil would not be an Infallible 
guide. The brightest agricultural chemist in the world 
could give him no positive information as to the kind and 
quantity of fertilizer which might be most economically 
used. 
Manifestly, therefore, he must become his own teacher, 
and he can do this In no other more effective way than by 
instituting a similar set of experiments on his own fields 
guided by the intimations which stable, farm-yard, hen or 
other manure, ashes or other partial manures may have, in 
past seasons, afforded. 
TheR. N -Y. does not see wherein it can help its readers 
by further continuing these experiments to determine how 
much fertilizer may be profitably used. They have been 
carried on long enough to give positive answers in so far 
as this particular land is concerned. They will therefore 
be discontinued, and it only remains for those who use fer¬ 
tilizers to determine whether it may prove worth their 
while to conduct similar experiments for themselves. 
