16 



the season of 1910. Realizing the difficulty of securing 

 reliable co-operation in conducting Plot Tests in many 

 cases where co-operation was essential, it was thought that 

 the soil to be tested might readily be transported and 

 placed in imbedded cylinders for the tests, our experience 

 having demonstrated that the cotton plant may be grown 

 normally to maturity in such cylinders of suitable size. 

 While the cylinder method as a substitute for the Plot 

 Method has its disadvantages, its many advantages are obvi- 

 ous. Three types of soil were selected and a set of 12 cylin- 

 ders for each type was provided. The foundation or subsoil 

 was the same for the entire group of 36 cylinders. Each set 

 /of cylinders ^^as then filled to a depth of 8 inches with its 

 ■ own type of soil. In the aj^plication of fertilizers to the 

 individual cylinders of each set the same scheme was fol- 

 lowed as has been employed in the plot tests. All other de- 

 tails observed in the plot method have been applied to the 

 cylinder method, and the analytical results, thus far ob- 

 tained, conform strikingly to those of the older method. 



The assistant in this department, Mr. Bell, resigned in 

 September and the vacancy thus created has not yet been 

 filled. It is hoped that a suitable man may soon be found, 

 that the work may go on again without interruption. 

 Respectfullv submitted. 



IAS. T. ANDERSON, 

 Chemist, Soils and Crop Investigation. 



