ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
37 
Wednesday, 9 a. m. 
Convention met pursuant to adjournment, with largely 
increased attendance. 
On motion, Topics Nos. 3 and 4 were consolidated; 
both covering nearly the same ground, that of u Fertilizers.” 
Dr. S. M. Slade was called for to open this discussion. 
He had not prepared any paper upon this subject. Said 
we should all understand chemical fertilizers better than we 
do. His experience had been limited, and mostly by 
observation. In Ontario County, N. Y., only twelve bushels 
of wheat could be raised per acre, while in Virginia, thirty 
miles from Washington, seventeen bushels could be raised, 
from land in use over one hundred years; even better than 
Genesee County. What did they use to get this yield ? 
Simply about two hundred and fifty pounds of guano per 
acre; the land produced enough more to doubly pay for the 
guano. As to fruit-growing, he had on ]y used the phos¬ 
phates; none of them had ever paid, considering time and 
expense. The dairyman could handle coarse manure better 
than other farmers, as he kept more labor about him; with 
ethers, who do not keep so much help on the farm, perhaps 
concentrated fertilizers would be preferable, as much time 
is saved in applying, and get returns the first season. 
Believed chemical fertilizers, all considered, to be prefer¬ 
able. 
Dr. J. Woodworth: Came as a pupil to learn. Often 
one who knows the least talks the most; so he would be 
careful. His experience with chemicals had been mostly 
with salt. All land should be rotated. His principal 
fertilizer was common barn-yard manure, and should be 
composted and applied immediately in contact with the 
