xciv Department of Soil Techxulogy 



The nitrogen balance in soils grozuing different legumes, and in soils 

 growing timothy, when the hay crops are removed. — Our experiments 

 have shown that legumes increase the rate of nitrate production in soils, 

 as compared with grasses. It is well known that legumes use nitrate 

 nitrogen in large quantities. It is therefore a question how much of the 

 large quantities of atmospheric nitrogen fixed by legumes is kept in the 

 soil when the crops are removed, how the different species of legumes 

 dift'er in this respect, and how they compare with timothy. 



The use of fertilizers on, a nurse crop with ivhich timothy or timothy 

 and clover are sozvn. — On certain of the experiment plats on which 

 fertilizers were used on the nurse crop when sown to timothy and clover, 

 the yields of hay were less the first year of cutting than on the plats on 

 which no fertilizer was used for the nurse crop. The point to be deter- 

 mined is whether the profit from the increased growth of the nurse crop 

 will offset the delayed growth of the hay crop. The experiment is 

 designed to furnish information on that subject, and also on the 

 profitableness of applying fertilizers in separate parts, the nitrate nitrogen 

 being reserved for use directly after removing the nurse crop, at which 

 time it is of greatest service to the young growth of grass. 



The fertilizer needs and lime requirements of certain muck soils. — The 

 fertilizer and lime requirements of muck soils differ with different 

 deposits. Local tests are being made at certain points and it is expected 

 that information of general application will ultimately be gained. 



Local fertilizer tests. — Tests of different kinds and quantities of 

 fertilizers applied to a rotation of crops, with and without the applica- 

 tion of lime, are being conducted for the purpose of ascertaining the 

 fertilizer needs of the particular soil under experiment. When a suffi- 

 cient number of. these are in operation, they will furnish information on 

 the possibility of determining the fertilizer needs of any soil type by 

 conducting experiments on a representative soil of that type. 



extension 



The term " extension," as commonly used, does not correctly indicate 

 the scope of work of the extension section of this Department. It is 

 better defined by the term " extra-college work." in the sense that it 

 embraces all those activities of the department beyond the university, 

 or college, plant. 



The work divides into two groups, the first and primary of which is of 

 an investigative and experimental nature ; the second is instructional in 

 nature, and the one contributes to the other and makes it more specific 

 and useful. The first group includes: (i) Soil survey, (2) chemical 



