397 



Stubble and roots of rants as manure, C. D. Woods, B. S. 

 (pp. 67-82). — " The iiivcstiyntion iipo/i tlic Jiinoiint jnul leitiliziug 

 value of the stubble iind roots left behind after the removal of crops, 

 described iu the Annual Keport of the station for 1888, pp. L*8-43 [See 

 Experiment Station Bulletin No. 2, p. 57], has been continued during 

 1889." The method used in obtaining specimens of stubble and roots 

 for analysis is stated. Twenty-three specimens of cow-peas, timothy 

 and redtop, buckwheat, clover, yellow, blue, and white lupine, horse- 

 bean, soja bean, vetch, and mammoth clover are described. The 

 principal statistics contained in the descriptions of specimens and the 

 results of analyses are given in three tables. The most important of 

 these tables gives the " weight of the valuable ingredients of plant- 

 food left in one acre after the removal of the crop. It includes the work 

 here reported upon, together with observations made elsewhere. For 

 comparison the weights of valuable plant-food contained iu a few 

 standard fertilizers are appended to the table." The variability of the 

 samples analyzed iu 1889 was very noticeable, thus adding emphasis to 

 the following statement made in the report for 1888 : " These facts tend 

 to make uncertain many lessons that might be drawn from these tables ; 

 indeed, perhaps the most important fact here brought out is the need 

 of more observations." 



The following practical summary is taken from the report: "Clover, 

 cow-peas, vetches, and other legumes have a peculiar power of gather- 

 ing plant- food, and especially nitrogen, from natural sources. Although 

 they contain much more nitrogen than wheat, oats, and similar grains, 

 they thrive and bring large yields where wheat will not. While their 

 faculty for gathering nitrogen from the stores in the soil, and especially 

 from the air, is not yet explained, the imi)ortaut fact here is that they 

 do gather it and leave a great deal of it in the roots and stubble. Nitro- 

 gen is the costliest ingredient of fertilizers. These facts help to explain 

 the economy of clover for manure and why clover is so valuable as a 

 preparatory crop for wheat and other grains. The above-cited facts 

 would seem to imply that the legumes, such as clover, cow-peas, and 

 lupines, are especially valuable for this kind of manuring; that timothy 

 and other grasses stand next; and that the grain crops leave the least 

 amounts of plant-food in roots and stubble." 



Meteorological observations, O. S. PiiELrs, B. S. (pp. 83-86). — 

 Brief notes on the weather and tabulated monthly summaries of the rain- 

 fall during 6 months ending October 31, 1889, from observations made 

 at tw^enty localities in the State, and of meteorological observations 

 made at the station during 1889 by E. A. Bailey. 



Co-operative field experiments with fertilizers, C. S. 

 Phelps, B. S. (pp. 87-126). — These experiments were conducted on the 

 same general plan as those of 1888 (See Experiment Station Bulletin 

 No. 2, p. 58), and embraced mainly soil tests and special nitrogen tests. 



