EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 77 



area of land at the disposal of the Experiment ?5tation stands in the 

 wa3' of satisfactorily- conductinji- variety tests. A portion of the experi- 

 mental grounds known as the Davenport plots have been appropriated 

 for testing varieties of wheat and other crops. At present twenty of 

 these plots are promising a very satisfactory test on sixteen varieties 

 of wheat, Dawson Golden Chart" being sown as the check crop for the 

 test. As a means of more extensively testing varieties of wheat we sent 

 out to several farmers in the State the seed fo'r conducting tests with 

 wheat at the last seeding. The department furnishing the seed in this 

 experiment, and the farmer promising to make a careful comparison 

 of the varieties sent., together with those growing on his farm. It is 

 hoped that by continuing a system of this kind some very reliable figures 

 may be obtained. 



SAND LUCERNE. 



The very satisfactory results in the growth of this perennial legume 

 have led to the expanding of the experiments and distribution of seed 

 to about 150 farmers of the State. The plots of this crop were cut four 

 times last year, the better plot yielding over five tons of hay per acre. 

 We are experimenting this year on the value of this crop as a pasture 

 plant, pasturing sheep in hurdles on a small area of it. A new seeding 

 of one-half acre was made this year, and to the names of 150 farmers 

 a quantity of seed was sent sufficient to sow five or six square rods, 

 together with a letter of instruction. This plant is giving so much 

 promise, especially in the dry sandy regions, that we hope for its uni- 

 versal adoption as a new hay crop in this State. 



SAND VETCH. 



The department is constantly receiving letters of inquiry relative to 

 the characteristics of this plant. In order to learn something more of 

 its value as a forage and hay crop, as well as its value as a green manure, 

 the department has sent out about 120 packages of seed of this plant. 

 After time enough has elapsed to give this a fair trial we hope to receive 

 replies from the people who have it, and publish them in a future 

 bulletin. 



A large number of varieties of cow peas and soy beans were grown 

 the past year. These are being grown again this year, with the idea 

 of studying their feeding and fertilizing value, the results of which we 

 hope to publish in a bulletin on legumes in the near future. 



SUGAR BEETS. 



The work of the past year in connection with the sugar beet growing- 

 was directed to the testing of varieties, the date and method of planting, 

 distance apart of planting, and the use of fertilizers in connection with 

 the crop. The fertilizer experiments were directed to determine not 

 only the yield, but their ettect upon the sugar content and i)urity of the 

 beets. In this latter direction the chemist of the Experiment Station 

 has heartily co-o])erated. 



The ex])eriments now in progress with sugar beets are in continuation 

 of those begun one year ago. In our co-operative ex])eriments on muck 

 lan<l especial attention is given to sugar beets under the vai'ious treat- 

 ments to determine if it is possible to grow on our muck lands a quality 



