The Somerset reporter., 1896-04-02
METHODS OF MATURING.
Summary of Resuits From Field Expert
ments ut the New Jersey Station.

Summary of Results From Field Expert
ments ut the New Jersey Station.
Numbered with field experiments
with fertilizers, conducted under the
auspices of the New Jersey agricultural
standardization and reported by Dl'
rector Voorhees,, were a large number
Of experiment with potatoes planned to
test the relative value of chemical and
hnliyard manures and the value of the
different forms Of potash salts The re-
suits secured show, first, decided benc-
fits from both chemicals and yard ma
nnres, and, second, that of the different
forms Of potash salts the muriate ex-
erted tEa greatest influence on yield,
while sulihate, though slightly less
effective than the muriate, improved
the quality IF the tubers. The use OF
nitrogen Was especially useful only on
soils Of mcalum fertility or where earli-
ness Of cgGp was II factor of Importance,
though, on The whole complete chem
zeal manure that = those containing
nitrogen, pbosIh,rIc I'D and potash
were moro piGti.anle than either min
erals alone or y.,ld Inanures.
The larger ndmbar of the experiments
upon sweet potatoes We're also planned
to study the relative value of chemicals
and yard nanares though tests of the
comparative Y4lue IF tie nitrogen IN nj
trate of soda and that III 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 he drawn from the results
obtained-viz, that satisfactory crops
can be raised with chemical manures
alone, and that the net profits arc great
or than from he use Of yard manure
alone; that the use Of chemicals and
yard manure together is moro salisiac-
tory than the use 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 profit-that is, nitrogen was not
shown to be essential to large yields 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
duhlIiO VI iilp l'ARbdSN vas AASAA'J ~
duced. Here stable manure, too, while
increasing yield, exerted an unfayorable
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 i'll connection with mineral manures.
Il
of experienced growers III 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 oh
tanning Oh 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
tho crop was greater from the use OF nj
trate. q That nitrate of soda alone was
ON the whole but slightly less effective
than the complete fertilizers. In refer
ence to methods of application 1t was
shown that when small quantities OF
nitrate were used (1G0 pounds per acre.
the application of one-half at time of
setting the plants and one-haf from
three TO four weeks later was more adj
vantageous than single application of
the whole.