EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



353 



COUNTY CO-OPERATIVE CROP TESTS. 



The various types of soil together with the influence of temperature and 

 moisture on the growing season, effect the farm practices even within short 

 distances. In order that the Station can check up on just what the influence 

 of these local en\dronmental factors are, tests are being conducted in several 

 of the counties. These tests are put on in co-operation with the County- 

 Agent. In 1920 four county tests were put on with oats, four with barley, 

 and three with alfalfa. 



CO-OPERATIVE CROP WORK ON MUCK SOIL. 



The Station is co-operating with J. A. Jeffery, Land Commissioner for the 

 Duluth South Shore and Atlantic Railroad Company in making a fertilizer 

 and grass seeding test on the muck soils of the Seney Swamp area in School- 

 craft county. The fertilizer test was planned by Mr. Jeffery to demonstrate 

 the benefits, if any, that might be derived from the use of various commercial 

 fertilizers and soil amendments on the muck soils of this area. 



This work is being conducted on the farm of Mr. H. E. Bullock, five miles 

 west of Seney. Mr. Bullock's co-operation in furnishing the land, material 

 and labor for these experiments is making it possible for the work to be con- 

 tinued in the future. It was unfortunate that in 1919 the particular part 

 of the farm on which the experiments were being conducted, lay in the path 

 of one of the largest swamp fires ever recorded in that section. The crops 

 themselves were not only burned up, but the soil burned to a depth of six 

 to eight inches. The original experiment as put out in 1919 was again put 

 out in 1920 and quite satisfactory results obtained. Work was also started 

 with such crops as mint, cauliflower, cabbages, potatoes, celery and head 

 lettuce. Experiments to determine how best to establish a new seeding on 

 the burned over area were tried. A mixture of several grasses and legumes 

 was seeded under four different sets of conditions; seeding with no cultural 

 work; seeding and harrowing; harrowing and seeding; harrowing seeding 

 and harrowing. Observations of at least one more season will be necessary 

 before drawing conclusions as to how best to seed on this area. 



Fig. No. 24. Co-operative ' 'Truck Crop' ' experiments on the Seney area 1920. 



