Number of plot.

Fertilizers on Potatoes.

For testing fertilizers, a piece of corn-stock ground was selected, plowed, and harrowed, and struck out in rows three feet apart, and the following fertilizers applied in the row, at the rate of $14 40 value per acre, using equal values of each kind. The fertilers were lightly covered with earth, the potato sets, planted, fifteen inches apart in the row, and covered three inches deep with a Hexamer hoe.

The Victor variety of potato was used in this experiment, and was planted April 22, and dug August 27, resulting as follows:

In your last year's report, under the head of "Results with Fertilizers," we gave a table showing the continued action of several established fertilizers. We now add this year's results, (1878,) which completes the cropcourse, or the five years rotation. As before stated, this application was made in 1874, to corn-no other fertilizer being used during the course. Equal values were used, except, perhaps, in the case of barn-yard manure, which is of uncertain commercial value. we used a good coat, such as farmers usually apply for corn.

But

We do not deem it necessary to repeat, what was said in previous report, in relation to the character and constituents of these fertilizers, or to again carry out the deductions as to profit or otherwise.

Methods of Setting Milk, to raise Cream.

We have made quite a number of experiments, testing various methods of setting milk, such as deep and shallow, high and low temperatures, &c., and also tried several plans of employing these methods, such as proposed by L. S. Hardin, William Dripps, George E. Waring, and others.

Without going into tedious details, the result might be stated, as giving these conclusions:

First. That the simplest, and, perhaps, all things considered, the safest plan to set milk to raise cream, is in shallow pans, in a good stream of cool, living water. The flow of water is a splendid disinfectant or absorbent of smells and air impurities, such as unavoidably belong about large dairies. And hence, entire cleanliness is more easily secured in springhouses with good strong springs. But the advantages of spring-houses may be easily over balanced, if the springs are not convenient or cool enough. A well built spring-house for shallow pan setting must have three times the capacity or size as a house or room, wherein the deepsetting plan is employed, and the shallow pans will cost twice as much as the deep ones, holding an eqal amount of milk.

Second. We demonstrated, to our entire satisfaction, that deep cans, in a low temperature, say 45° or 49°, would raise cream yielding butter, equal in amount, and of superior quality (if in very hot weather) with shallow pans in a higher temperature-60° or over.

Third. We also demonstrated that the greater the depth, or bulk of milk, the lower the required temperature; and that about twenty inches was the maximum heighth of can, and nine inches the maximum diameter. Perhaps less high and diameter would be better.

Fourth. We also found that in very low lemperatures, less time was required for the cream to raise. With pans at 60°, it took thirty-six hours. With twenty-inch pans, at 45° to 49°, it took twenty-four hours; and at still lower temperatures, from twelve to fifteen hours. Of course, the low temperature had to be secured with the aid of ice.

Fifth. We also proved, to our entire satisfaction, that it was no advantage to create sound milk, or to expose it to the atmosphere to carry off animal odors; but that equally good and long keeping butter could be made by sealing up the fresh milk, and keeping it at low temperatures. We hane tested various inventions for cooling milk, some using an airmedium, cooled with ice; some with water, and some with both air and

water.

We think where ice is entirely depended on to cool milk, that it is more economical of ice, as well as more efficient, to cool air surrounding the cans than to cool water.

The displacement of the heated air around the can by the cooler air is more rapid and perfect than would be the same process of displacement in the water medium. Of course, when cooled air is used, the arrangements for preventing waste must be complete and perfect, as the loss from exposure is greater. We have never tried cooling milk-rooms, with underground channels, or sub-earth ducts, as they are sometimes called; but from our observation of them at other places, we judge them to be very inefficient and expensive. As a plan to secure a low temperature through a continuous hot spell, the use of these ducts neither look reasonable, nor are their results, so far, at all promising.

CONSOLIDATED CROP RETURNS FOR SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, AND NOVEMBER, 1877.