Fertilizer and Seeding Experiments with Root Crops. 421 



experiments of i907 



The experiments were conducted on a rather heavy soil known as 

 Dunkirk Clay loam. The land had been in corn for the two preceding 

 years and was in a fairly good state of cultivation and comparatively 

 free from weeds. An application of stable manure at the rate of lo 

 tons per acre was made in the fall before plowing. With the excep- 

 tion of the plats on which the fertilizer trial was conducted the area 

 received an application of commercial fertilizer consisting of 120 pounds 

 of nitrate of soda, 240 pounds of acid phosphate and 80 pounds of 

 muriate of potash per acre. This was sown broadcast just before the 

 last harrowing. The area devoted to the experiments was laid off 

 in plats consisting of 3 rows, each 62 J feet long, and comprising one- 

 eightieth of an acre. The seed was sown with a hand drill with the 

 exception of the plats noted on p. 418, which were sown with a grain 

 drill. The rows were 3 5 inches apart. This distance allows the use of the 

 middle and the two outer hoes of a 7-1 1 grain drill. It also permits of 

 cultivation during the latter part of the season without injury to the 

 plants. 



The seed germinated well and a perfect stand was secured with the 

 exception of the plats sown with the grain drill. The plants were thinned, 

 when the third leaf began to appear, to a distance of nine inches. 



A good growth was made during the early part of the season. During 

 July and August, the usual period of greatest root development, the 

 growth of the plants was very much restricted by the abnormally low 

 rainfall. Considerable damage was done by a severe attack of the leaf- 

 spot (Cercospora heticola) which at one time threatened to destroy the 

 crop. To these adverse conditions may be attributed the unusually 

 low yields. 



The following table gives the normal and monthly temperatures 

 and rainfall at Ithaca, N. Y., during the period from April to September, 

 1907, inclusive: 



Month 



April 



May 



June 



July 



August . . . 

 September 



Temperature, 

 degrees F. 



Normal 



44.2 



SI -o 



66 



70 



68 



60 



[907 



38.8 



50 • 3 

 62 . 9 



69.7 



66.6 



63.2 



Rainfall, 

 inches 



1907 



3-7° 

 251 

 515 

 1-95 

 1 . 64 



396 



