Middletown transcript., 1896-03-21
Il METHODS or MANuRiNG.
Summary Of Results From Field Expef
ments at the New Jersey Station.

Summary OF Results From Field Experf-
ments at the New Jersey Station.
Numbered with field experiments
with fertilizers. conducted under the
auspices of the New Jersey agricultural
experiment station and reported by Di-
rector Voorhees,, were large number
Of experiments with potatoes planned to
test the relative value of chemical and
barnyard manures and the value OF the
different forms of potash salts. The re-
suits secured show, first, decided bene-
fits from both chemicals and yard ma
nures, and, second, that of the different
forms of potash salts the muriate ex-
erted the greatest influence on yield,
while sulphate, though slightly less
effective than the muriate, improved
the quality of the tubers. The use of
nitrogen was especially useful only on
soils of medium fertility or where earli-
ness Of crop was factor of Importance,
though, on the whole, complete chem
ical manures-that is, those containing
nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash
were more profitable than either min
erals alone or yard manures.
The larger number of the experiments
upon sweet potatoes were also planned
to study the relative value of chemicals
and yard manures, though tests OF the
comparative value of the nitrogen in nj
trate of soda and that in dried blood
were also included. Two general conclu-
sions in reference to the yield from the
use of these two distinct classes of ma
nures may be drawn from the results
obtained-viz, that satisfactory crops
can be raised with chemical manures
alone, and that the net profits are great
er than from the use of yard manure
alone; that the use of chemicals and
yard manure together is more satisfac-
tory than the nse Of yard manure alone
The addition OF nitrogen to the minerals,
either in the form of nitrate of soda or
dried blood, has been attended with lit
tie proft-that is, nitrogen was not
shown to be essential to large yieids on
the best sweet potato lands Of Glouces-
ter county. On the more sandy soils OF
Cumberland the yield was increased by
the use of nitrogen, though the market
quality of the product was materially re-
duced. Here stable manure, too, while
increasing yield, exerted an unfavorable
effect on the shape and edible quality
of the tubers
An extensive study has been made OF
the value of nitrate Of soda as a ferti-
lizer for early tomatoes, used either alone
or in connection with mineral manures.
Experiments were carried out on farms
Of experienced growers in those sections
Of the state where the crop is an impor-
tant one, and where the soil is adapted
to its growth. For the conditions OBJ
tanning on these soils it was shown: l.
That nitrate of soda was superior to
either barnyard manure or mineral fer
tilizers alone--that is, the net profit OF
the crop was greater from the use of nj
trate. 2. That nitrate of soda alone was
on the whole but slightly less effective
than the complete fertilizers. In refer
ence to methods of application it was
shown that when small quantities of
nitrate were used (160 pounds per acre)
the application of one-half at time OF
setting the plants and one-half from
three to four weeks later was more ad-
yantageous than single application Of
the uho1a