FIELD CROPS. 441 



fiber is derived, and discusses its distributiou, methods of culture and liarvest- 

 ing, and uses. A chemical analysis of the fiber is also presented. It is believed 

 that this fiber may be used as a substitute for flax fiber. 



Variety tests with red clover, 1898-1910, E. Lindhakd {Tidsslcr. Landbr. 

 Planteavl, 18 {1911), 'No. 1, pp. 1-95).— The author reports the results of a 

 continuation of the study of varieties of red clover conducted at Danish experi- 

 ment stations already noted (E. S. R., 16, p. 37). 



Tests of over 400 samples of red clover of different origin were made at 6 

 experiment stations during 1S9S-1910. The types of clover of different coun- 

 tries are dealt with on the basis of the results obtained in these and earlier 

 trials, covering in all variety tests with about 2,000 samples of red clover seed 

 from different parts of the world. 



The cultivated form of red clover, according to the author, has 2 main vari- 

 eties, late and early red clover, which are often cultivated side by side within 

 the same district of Denmark. The typical late red clover, as a rule, grows 

 stems only once during the summer and gives therefore only one cutting. 

 Early red clover grows stems several times the same summer and gives several 

 cuttings. It blooms 10 to 20 days earlier than late red clover. The latter form 

 is found in countries where the winter is most severe and the summer shortest, 

 like Norway, most of Sweden. Finland. Northern Russia, and Siberia. 



Most of the 4,400,000 lbs. of clover seed which Denmark imports annually 

 is the early variety. The best seed of early red clover comes from Russia, 

 Bohemia, and Holstein, in the author's opinion, w^hile the late clover seed is 

 imported from Sweden, Norway, Silesia, and Bohemia. The seed of the late 

 clover grown in Denmark yielded considerably better than the imported seed. 

 This form is especially adapted for cultivation with timothy and other late 

 blooming grasses, or in pure stand. Under these conditions it gives, as a rule, 

 larger hay crops and does better in cold and moist ground than the early red 

 clover. 



How to grow more and better corn, A. Goss, A. T. Wiancko, and J. B. 

 Abbott {Indiana St<i. Circ. 2J, pp. 36, figs. 10). — A discussion of the status of 

 corn growing in Indiana and directions for the production of the crop accompany 

 statements of the results of fertilizer and cropping system tests. 



After 20 years' continuous cropping to corn the yield on the fertilized plats 

 was 22.2 bu. less and on the unfertilized plats 35.1 bu. less than in 1SS9, the 

 first year of the test. In cropping to corn and wheat the decreases during the 

 same period were 2 and 24.6 bu. per acre, respectively, while in a corn, roots, 

 oats, wheat, and clover and grass rotation increases of 15 and 2.7 bu. per acre 

 occurred on the fertilized and unfertilized plats, as compared with the yields 

 20 years earlier. After (1) a corn, oats, wheat, and clover rotation, and (2) a 

 corn, oats, wheat, and clover and grass rotation, the yields on the unfertilized 

 plat had greatly decreased, and those on the fertilized plat had considerably 

 increased. 



The relation of live stock to soil fertility is discussed. The average gain 

 secured from an average application of 4.5 tons of manure per acre on the 

 last 2 crops in 5 different rotations was 17.1 bu. per acre. Tests in 5 representa- 

 tive counties resulted in an average gain of 6.6 bu. per acre at an average 

 cost of $1.11 per acre for fertilizers or $1.39 return for every dollar invested in 

 fertilizer. This amount was secured after the use of phosphorus and potassium 

 and is much greater than that secured after the application of a complete 

 fertilizer, or of (1) nitrogen and potassium, or (2) nitrogen and phosphorus. 

 A table states also the calculated effect and value of each element by difference. 

 In Starke, Henry, Newtou, and Madison counties the average yield secured 

 on check plats was 36.4 bu. per acre as compared with 60.4 bu. after an 



