Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-04-18


manured field sown to oats, but not the
slightest result was perceptible. | will not
say that | would have lost my phosphate
had | applied it literally to this particular
field, but surely would have lost it's present
use. A crop Of oats takes from the soil but
three-fourths as much phosphoric acid as
does a crop of wheat aud, while have rea-
son to believe that this field was deficient in
phosphorus, it is probable that the manure
which had been applied furnished the crop
all its required food in kind and amount
Later in the season, as had leisure, |
proceeded at the suggestion OF the Secretary
of our Board Of Agriculture, to prepare in
the most careful manner an experiment
which should Indicate the relative values of
several commercial fertilizers. measured
and staked numerous plots OF ground Of uni
form size and lying in one body. To the
first plot no manure whatever was applied !;
to the second iue cow.mauure at the rate Of
forty two-horse loads per acre was applied !;
to the third one Of the phosphates, carefully
Weighed, five hundred pounds to the acre,
and besides this the same proportions Of the
manure, and wood ashes, forty bushels per
acre. Other phosphates followed in success
sion with manure aud ashes, aud then the
same phosphates with only ashes, and then
again the same phosphates alone. AT the
end was plot with ashes alone. The whole
was sown to corn.fodder in drills, as being a
crop which required a considerable supply Of
food, and one which could readily weigh.
| | found satisfaction in the results of my
experiment 1t showed me that my soil
which was strong, gravelly loan, aud
trench plowed very deep, was in good condi-
ton That was ALL for could perceive nc
difference in the yield Of the several plots
whether nanured or without manure.
sometimes fancicd that one phosphate was
ahead of the others by few inches, but as
often doubted, and at last | came to the con
clusion which have given.
My employmentof this crop Of green-ioddel
corn for the purpose of testing various super
phosphates was not must think, u wis,
choice, for the crop requires but very little
phosphoric acid, scarcely more than a tentl
of its ash being of this substance. Wheat
rye, or buckwheat, Of the ash of whose graiI
phosphoric acid forms almost one half, woulC
have afforded better test. 1t is seldom
that any better facilities for making sucl
comparisons can be required than are offereC
oy field already sown to any Of thes
grains.
make no question but there are, even il
New England, fields, or even tracts Of lane
Of considerable extent, which do not need al
application Of phosphorlc acid aud the fire.
use Of superphosphates, at the high rates a
which,they are sold, might to.a great exten
be waste Of money. | have in mind sucl
a tract at no great distance from where
write, but newer land and Of different sol
from this of which have spoken, where on
OF the best phosphates in the market as
shown both by analysis and by use, has bee
generally tried, aud where not single ia'
mer is able to say that he has seen the slight
est result from it, OF course all the farmer
of the neighborhood ara persuaded it is
humbug.