10 
BULLETIN 115. 
Comments on Results of Fertilizer Experiment 1904.—The most 
important points as indicated by the results of this experiment are 
the higher yields wherever nitrate was used either alone or in combin¬ 
ation except where used in the “complete” fertilizer. There is noth¬ 
ing to indicate that there was any benefit from applying the same 
amount of nitrate in several doses. In the case of Plat 8 the higher 
yield over Plat 7 is undoubtedly due to the larger amount used in the 
three applications. In the case of Plat 10 which accidentally received 
a top dressing where it was not intended, the larger total quantity 
used did not increase the yield, although it lowered the sugar content 
and purity slightly. There is also a little evidence that sulphate of 
potash had some effect and that it at least did a little more than pay 
for itself, while the acid phosphate had very little if any effect upon 
the yield. It is also seen that the effect of nitrate was not influenced 
by potash or the acid rock when used separately with nitrate, but 
when all three were used together in the complete fertilizer, the re¬ 
sult is negative, as was found in the experiment of the previous year. 
Looking at this result in oneway there seems to be a neutralization of 
the action of nitrate in presence of potash and phosphate together. 
The limit of the most profitable application of nitrate of soda 
with the soil and conditions of this experiment appears to be about 
175 pounds. Taking into consideration all the plats where the in¬ 
creased yield seems due to a reasonable quantity of nitrate a moder¬ 
ate estimate would be that on land capable of producing 11 to 15 tons 
without fertilizers, the profit can be increased from $9 to $10 per 
acre by the use of said amount of nitrate of soda. The larger quanti¬ 
ties, even the extreme amount of 580 pounds, although giving a profit 
above the cost of application, did not give, returns in proportion to 
the amounts used, after deducting the cost. 
The results of the lime cake applied was ineffective if it did 
not actually decrease the yield. In this experiment there is no indi¬ 
cation to show that phosphoric acid used with nitrate of soda, in¬ 
creased the sugar content of the beet over nitrate alone, as in the 
experiment of the previous year. If anything, this effect, is due to 
potash with nitrate, in this experiment. 
The sugar content and purity is generally uniform and satisfac¬ 
tory, being the highest on Plat 1 with nitrate of soda and potash, and 
Plat 11 with all the elements. In this experiment, perhaps for the 
reason that the average yield, thirteen tons, of all the plats is below 
the average of this district, there is no connection between higher 
yields and high sugar content and purity, or vice versa. 
FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS IN 1905 
The experiment' this season with fertilizers of sugar beets was 
conducted on a large area, and in cooperation with a farmer growing 
beets exclusively and under his control as regards cultural methods. 
The experiment can therefore be considered as under the conditions 
of ordinary farm w r ork, and none of the refinements possible in small 
plat work was attempted, with the exception of the accurate appli- 
