The results of these experiments agree in the main with the corresponding ones made in the three previous years. The various forms of carbonate of potash have yielded on the whole better tobacco than the sulphates, and the low grade sulphate has produced better tobacco than the high grade. Tobacco raised on high grade sulphate has each year shown a tendency to "coal" on the cigar even when it was free-burning.

The above summary presents briefly the results of the experiments of 1895. The experiments of 1896 close the series. The crop of 1896 is now in the case for fermentation and will be examined by the expert in the fall of 1897. A complete review of the whole five years' work can then be given.

EXPERIMENTS IN GROWING TOBACCO WITH DIFFERENT FERTILIZERS. SEASON OF 1896.

BY E. H. JENKINS.

These experiments are in continuation of those begun in 1892 in cooperation with the Connecticut Tobacco Experiment Co. of Poquonock in the town of Windsor.

Full particulars regarding the land, the conduct of the experiments and their results are given in the Reports of this Station for 1892, pages 1 to 24; for 1893, pages 112 to 144; for 1894, pages 254 to 284; for 1895, pages 128 to 156.

FERTILIZERS.

The fertilizers used in 1896 were sampled and analyzed by Messrs. Winton, Ogden and Mitchell with the following results:

COMPOSITION AND COST OF FERTILIZERS USED.

The chemicals used for each plot were accurately weighed and labeled by the Station representative, mixed thoroughly and bagged by Mr. DuBon and himself.

The bags were carried to the several plots by Mr. DuBon, and their contents were sowed under his constant supervision.

* Estimated.

By single pound; ton rates would be much lower.

Total cost of importing a one ton lot from Stassfurt.

Name of

Plot.

The following table shows the plan of the experiment, the fertilizers applied, with the cost of each as far as known, and the quantities of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash contained in them.

FERTILIZERS APPLIED, SEASON OF 1896.

* Applied between the rows July 7. Applied between the rows July 20.

* Estimated to contain 111 lbs. nitrogen, 71 lbs. phosphoric acid and 119 lbs.

potash.

PLOWING, PLANTING AND CARE DURING GROWTH.

On April 7th and again on April 14th, the field was harrowed. The fertilizers were evenly broadcast on the several plots, May 11th, and plowed in. The field was again harrowed on the 12th.

A few weeks before the plants were set, the field was found to be infested with cut-worms which fed upon the young weeds as they came up.

To rid the land of cut-worms, small handfuls of an even mixture of 500 pounds of damp wheat bran and 5 pounds of Paris green were dropped, about 2 paces apart, on the rows where tobacco plants were to be set. Multitudes of the worms were found,

poisoned by this mixture.

The tobacco plants were set with the Bemis planter, on May 25th, 12 days after the application of Paris green. In former years a good many plants have been eaten by cut-worms the night after planting; this year not a single plant was found to be injured.

On May 30 about 100 plants in all had been destroyed by cutworms or wire worms, and were replaced. On June 6th about 50 more were replaced. No further damage was done by worms. In each of the four previous years the cut-worms have killed large numbers of plants and in consequence the stand of tobacco has been uneven.

July 14th the first topping of the tobacco was done, about half the plants requiring it. The others were topped on the 18th. The crop was harvested on Aug. 11th and 12th.

Copious rains fell after the tobacco was set, but the crop did not start as promptly nor grow as vigorously through the season as the year before. It is probable that a part of the fertilizer was either carried out of reach of the young plants by the rains, immediately after planting, or that the roots were slow to reach it. In 1892 excellent results followed from harrowing in the fertilizer lightly; (abundant rain followed planting).

In 1893, the fertilizer was harrowed in, but the plants were somewhat "burned" by the fertilizer; (little rain followed planting). In 1895, excellent results followed from plowing in the fertilizer; (rather dry weather followed planting).

In 1896, the fertilizer was plowed in as in 1895, but the crop was slow in starting and backward in development till near harvest time; (abundant rains followed planting).

It is likely that soluble plant food moves easily in the very light sandy soils on which tobacco is grown, following the movement of water in the soil.