Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-04-07

SECOND ARTICLE
It seems that, in the field experiments
made under Professor Atwaters direction,
the three fertilizing elements, nitrogen,
potash and phosphoric acid, were furnished
to the experimenters not only all together
and by twos but also singly, so that there
was set of plots MANFRED with each sepa-
rately, in addition to the nitrogen-potash,
the nitrogen-phosphate, the potash-phos-
phate and the Observation-Disclosures
lots. As the professor says, "There are
many cases in which crops fail because the
soil does not supply enough phosphoric acid
and where an application of superphosphate
or bone dust brings bountiful harvest.
There are likewise many in which potash is
especially deficient and potash salt or I'M
leacbed ashes will supply the need. In
some cases nitrogen in nitrate of soda or
other forms has the desired effect. In others,
nitrogen and phosphoric acid are needed,
and Peruvian guano or fish may be used
with great profit. In still others, mixture
of superphosphate or bone dust and potash
salt, supplying phosphoric acid and potash,
is the most economical material. Again, on
some soils and for some crops nothing short
of "complete " fertilizer will suffice. And,
finally, while most soils respond to the APP
plication of manures, there are many on
which all fertilizers fail"
In the bags furnished to the experiment
ers nitrogen was supplied in nitrate of soda;
phosphoric acid with sulphuric acid and
lime) in high grade superphosphate, dis
solved bone black and potash in muriate
of potash. Plaster Containing sulphuric
acid aud lime as sulphate of lime) and farm
manures were alsoemployed. The materials
were used on parallel plots of one-tenth or
one-twentieth acre, in proportions which
gave amounts per acre as in the table.
Regarding this table" (Which is fur
nished on separate sheet with another
table to be referred to hereafter), the follow
ing explanation is made. Plot A in each
experiment had nitrate of soda at the rate Of
two hundred pounds Containing thirty-two
pounds of nitrogen) per acre. Plot b had
pounds containing forty-eight pounds of
phosphoric acid. Plot c, two hundred pounds
ofmuriate of potash. Plot Done hundred and
fifty pounds nitrate of soda and three hun.
bred pounds of superphosphate; and so on,
plot G having complete chemical fertil-
izer" which furnished all the ingredients
ordinarily deficient in our soils; and the
plot F. NJ, farm manures of such sorts and
amounts as the experimenters chose to use.
Most of the trials were upon worn-out grass
land. The weather was generally favorable,
but in some cases so wet or so dry, so warm
or so cold, as to materially injure the crop.
RESULTS OF THE EXPERIMENTS.
In Mr.. Landon's experiments, No. l and .,
none of the fertilizers had any very marked
effect. The reason seems to have been bad
weather. cold and drouth, though the soil a
compact clay loan, was hardly the most ia
vorable for corn. Mr.. Smith, No. 3, had
scarcely more encouraging success. He re-
ports favorable weather, and it looks as
though the soil was at fault. In Mr.. Tobey's
gradients separately are all eiIicacious and
together, in G, they bring 10 bushels per
acre, while the farm manure brings no in
crease at all. Doubtless that will show It's
effect hereafter Mr.. Jameson, No. g. gets
no crop of any amount without potash.
With it there is, in every case, moderate
increase. Mr.. Rising, No. I, has good results
with all the material. Taking cost into ac
count, plaster is by far the most profitable
of all. Mr.. Chedel, No. s, finds potash use
full in every case but gets the best results
with the complete fertilizer, G. Mr.. Wins
low, No. 0, like Mr. Chede, gets good yield
with all, but finds the mixture of superphos-
phate and potash-salt the most profitable.
On the whole, the results vary widely with
the soils. But these figures alone are not
satisfactory, without further considerations
which will appear hereafter. Meanwhile it
may be noted that Q) The most profit
able material in each case is the one that
best fits its special needs. (2) The largest
average results were obtained with the com
plete" chemical fertilizer c., which excelled
even the farm manures. () The most
profitable fertilizer, on the average was the
mixture of superphosphate and potash salt.
As we shall see later, these two materials,
rightly applied, have proved extremely profit
able for corn. According to the very EN-
phatic testimony of these experiments, Yer
mont farmers will find it very much to their
advantage to raise corn by the aid of super
phosphate or bone dust and ashes, or the
commercial potash salts, especially muriate
of pntasb