The Jersey City news., 1906-05-08
New Jersey Experiment Sta
tion Gives Out Seine In-
teresting Information
THE INSPECTION METHOD
SAMPLES OF FERTILIZER ANAL
YZED-DEPARTMENT OF HOR-
TICULTURE ENLARGED.
Especial to "The Jersey city News.'o

interest to the laymen as well as the
agriculturists of the State will be found
in the twenty-sixth annual report of the
New Jersey State Agricultural Expert
ment Station. and the eighteenth annual
report of the New Jersey Agricultural
| College Experiment Station for the year
ending October 81, 1905, which appears
| together in one large volume of over 900
pages The report is profusely illustrat-
ed with reproductions of photographs
showing the progress and results Of the
excellent work the two institutions are
doing. Detailed reports Of what has been
done by the various departments of the
two stations are set forth, and there are
/ also statements by the treasurer of the
institutions showing the manner in which
the appropriations for their maintenance
have been expended.
The work of the experiment stations
during the past year, according to the
reports, has been enlarged materially,
mainly in the horticultural department
and in the enlargement of the facilities
for carrying on the experiments in plant
nutrition, though the scope of the work
in the departments of boteny and ento-
melogy has been broadened. In the
prosecution of the fertilizer control 420
samples, representing niaety-six manufac-
turers, were analyzed. These analysis
showed considerable variation from the
guarantee, greater, on the whole, than
has been the case in past years, and may
be due. the report says, in many in
stances, to the attempts of the manufac-
turers to maintain the standards and sell
ing prices of previous years. notwith-
standing the increase in the cost of raw
material
| An examination of different samples of
the same brand also showed that the ma
| terials used in the preparation of those
of the same name and guarantee differed
widely. In other cases wide variations
in the composition of dulicate samples of
the same brand have been shown. The
method of inspection followed has, as in
the past continued to give entire salts
factien The inspector visits those sec
tions of the State, using fertilizers in
large quantities early in the season first,
and since the work requires at least two
months, it is late in May when the dis
tricts of less consumption are visited,
and in seme cases stocks are exhausted.
Samples Of 204 incomplete fertilizers
representing home mixtures, specially
prepared mixtures, fertilizing materials
and ground bones were analyized and
found to be, as rule, as represented.
Besides these many samples of COM
cercial feed were analysed and, with the
exception of the feeds derived from corn
and linseed oil, the quality was of high
order, reaching or exceeding their guar
antees.
The line of plant nutrition work was
very largely increased during the past
year. The plan adopted contempfates
rather comprehensive study Of the needs
of paant-food Of certain well-defned soil
| types and also the mineral needs of sell
in respect to the growth and development
of Iegumes. In the prosecution of this
work new scheme was devised for con-
ducting the experiments by the pot sys-
tenn, one which, while experimental in
way, has resulted in giving excellent re-
suits the FIRST season. The broadening Of
the lines of work in this direction adds
very materially to the laboratory work,
as all plant studies are controlled by
analyses.
The experiments carried out on the
farm were considerably increased and a
more complete study of the adaptability
and usefulness for New Jersey conditions
of many varieties of cow peas and SOY,
beans and to extend largely the study Of
the adaptability and suitability of alfal-
ia. The successful culture of the crops
of alfalfa grown in many parts of the
State is very encouraging, though much
has yet to be learned as to methods of
seding and management.
The work in the Department of Horti-
culture has been enlarged and it is plan
ned to make careful study OF the con-
ditions now obtaining in the various fruit
growing sections, with view to conduct
ing experiments that shah determine
whether revival of the peach industry.
and the further development of apple
growing in the State may not contribute
to the material progress qf tAese ssctianoa