FIELD CHOPS. 22Y 



on those which hnd rcceivod no jHitash for tho past 8 years. lu the experi- 

 ments with a fertilizer iiiixture rich hi potash and a special corn fertilizer 

 the yields were jiractically equal, but tho cost of llie fertilizers was lower 

 when the fertilizer rich in potash was used. The crop of this year was mixed 

 hay. 



In the comparison of a inod(>rate api)Iication of barnyard manure alone witli 

 a smaller application of niaimrc in conibination with ico lbs. of hij;h-j,'rade 

 sulphate of ])otasli pei- acre, tiie lart^er average yield was produced with the 

 manure and the ]Kifasb. and liiis combination also costs .$0.40 less per acre 

 than the larj,'er quantity of nianui-e .-ilone. Mixed hay was also grown in con- 

 nection with this test. 



The sprin,sj application of barnyard manure .trave the better yield in all cases, 

 but the difference was not sullicient to cover the larj^er cost of the extra 

 bandlinix. There was little or no wash over the surface during the winter. 



On the grass lands receiving different fertilizer treatment in rotation the 

 average yield of hay was at the rate of 4,840 lbs. per acre for all 3 systems of 

 manuring. The average yield in this test from 1893 to 1905, inclusive, was 

 (!,479 lbs. An application of nitrate of soda, after harvesting the first crop of 

 grass, gave but a relatively small increase in yield, but, in one instance, where 

 applied at the rate of 150 lbs. per acre an increase of nearly 1 ton of-rowen. 

 or considerably more than sutticient to pay the cost of the fertilizer was 

 obtained. The results in detenuining the relative value for garden crops witii 

 fertilizers supplying respectively nitrogen and potash, when used with mamu-e, 

 show that on the basis of total crops produced the standing of the differnet 

 nitrogen fertilizers' is, for the early crops, nitrate of soda 100, dried blood 

 95.G7, sulphate of ammonia G3.08, and for late crops nitrate of soda 100, dried 

 blood 98.77, sulphate of ammonia 79.52. For 15 years the relative standing 

 of the fertilizers supplying potash is, for early crops, sulphate of potash 100, 

 nuiriate of potash 94.(36, and for late crops sulphate of potash 97.09, and muriate 

 of potash 100. 



A large numl)er of experiments during the past 8 or 10 years indicate the 

 doubtfulness of successful alfalfa growing in Massachusetts. 



Illustrations of the influence of experiment station work on culture of 

 field crops, J. I. Schulte ([/. *S'. Dept. Affi: Yearbook 1905, pp. Ji01-'ii.i, fiff. 1). — 

 Specific instances are given of the improvements brought about in methods of 

 farming and in the use of improved varieties of crops through the influence of 

 the experiment stations. Shallow culture of corn, more careful seed selection, 

 varieties adapted to special districts and purposes, heavier yields of oats, h(!tter 

 varieties of cotton, the control of potato diseases, better methods in fertilizing 

 and sweating tobacco, the development of the sugar-beet industry, the distribu- 

 tion of new varieties of sugar cane, the introduction of new forage crops, etc., 

 are among the more important matters discussed. 



Experiments with grain and forage plants, 1905, K. A. Moore and A. L. 

 Stone {Wiscmisin Shi. h'pf. J!)l).',. pp. .}.}il-.i.').'). fif/s. •>). — The variety tests with 

 grain and forage plants for the season were mainly conducted as in previous 

 years. The results are briefly discussed and the data secured are in-esented vi 

 tables. 



The Oderbruck and Manshury barley were the most satisfactory varieties on 

 trial. Oderbruck has now been grown for 7 years by the station, in comparison 

 with 3G different varieties and imi)roved by selection. In 1905 a yield of 58 bu. 

 per acre, weighing 50 lbs. per measured bushel, was obtained, and on the aver- 

 age for the 7 years ,53* bu. i)er acre was s(>ciu-ed. This variety has shown a 

 protein content of 15 per cent. Maushury barley grown iu UU cooperative tests 



