BULLETIN OF THE BUSSEY INSTITUTION. 115 
sionally applied small quantities of potash to keep up such supply 
as I have thought to be necessary for the best interests of the 
land, though these additions have been made for the sake of 
security as it were and from a desire not to scourge or force the 
land unduly rather than from any actual necessity. Meanwhile, 
the sandy soil has been kept singularly free from weeds, with 
very little labor. 
So very convincing were the results of this experiment that I 
have been accustomed to discuss it with my students as a prac- 
tical illustration of the necessity that each farmer should inform 
himself by actual trial as to what his land needs in order that 
crops may be.grown upon it to the best advantage. He should 
ascertain which of the three prominent elements of plant food 
predominates in his land, and which of them is not present in 
adequate supply for the crops he wishes to grow. Once well 
informed as to these points, he will be prepared to furnish what 
is lacking in his soil and will not be obliged to seek outside 
assistance or be perturbed by the conflicting statements of would- 
be advisers who may really have no better information or so good 
as what he might himself guess. 
