21 



Kentucky Station, Bulletin No. 23, February, 1890 (pp. 13). 



ExperimentH with oats (pp. 3-\)). — A report on siiuill experiments in 

 the followinj;- lines: (1) test of varieties; (2) depth of sowing; (3) 

 methods of sowing; (4) time of sowing; (;")) amount of seed i)er acre. 

 The trials were made on a wet, cold, clayey, blue-grass soil, with hard pan 

 1<S inches to 2 feet below the surface, causing imperfect drainage. The 

 soil was somewhat woin from long cultivation. "At the time of plant- 

 ing 500 pounds of cotton-seed-hull ashes were api)lied broadcast. The 

 season was unfavorable, being very dry in the early i)art and very wet 

 in the later part." (1) Test of varieties. — Tabulated notes on nineteen 

 varieties. The yields varied from 20.7 bushels to 4G.5 bushels per acre. 

 " The best variety tried was White Victoria, followed closely by Ilag- 

 gett's White Siesure, Barley Oats, Welcome, Improved American, and 

 White Schoener. (2) Depth o/sowinfj. — Welch oats were sown on three 

 plats at depths of 1, 2, and 3 inches. The largest yield came from 

 the 2-inch depth. (3) Methods of solving. — Drilling, broadcasting with 

 harrowing, and broadcasting with plowing in were compared ou 

 six foi tieth-acre plats. The second method gave the largest yields. 

 (4) Time of sou-ing. — The largest yield was from seed sown March 27, 

 the next April 4, the third April 12. Later sowings were failures. (5) 

 Amount of seed per acre. — Amounts varying from 1 to 4 bushels were 

 sown with a drill. There was little difference in the yields. 



Fertilizer experiments on English blue-grass (Festucapratensis) and tim- 

 othy (pp. 9-13). — During the season of 1888, 4 acres of decidedly wet, 

 well-worn land were seeded with grasses, 2 acres with -English blue- 

 grass {Festucapratensis) and 2 with timothy. In the spring of 1889 a 

 series of seven tenth-acre plats was selected for experiment from each 

 of the two divisions of the field, and to the corresponding plats of both 

 series fertilizers were applied singly as follows : sulphate of potash, IG 

 pounds; muriate of potash, IG pounds; nitrate of soda, 16 pounds; 

 sulphate of ammonia, 13 pounds; stable manure, two loads; tobacco 

 stems, 400 i^ouuds. One plat of each series was left uumanured. As 

 appears from the tabulated results, much the largest yields were ob- 

 tained from the plats to which tobacco stems were applied, the increase 

 of blue-grass being lOG, and of timothy 65 per cent above the yield 

 of the unmanured plat of the corresponding series. The effects of the 

 nitrogenous fertilizers, nitrate of soda, and sulphate of ammonia were 

 also decidedly beneficial, while the use of potash does not seem to liave 

 been profitable. 



It should be observed that the name English blue-grass is used in 

 this article, as in numerous other cases, as a popular name for Festuca 

 pratensis (meadow fescue), which should, of course, be distinguished 

 from Poacompressa, the real English blue-grass. 



