232 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



first generation. In the second generation tlie proportion of individuals of the 

 spring type to those of the winter form, at the time of heading, was as 2.5: 1, 

 while in the third generation the proportion raised to 3.4 : 1. Winter culture of 

 the first generation reduced the spring form to the proportion of 1.34 : 1, and 

 this influence was still noticeable in the third generation. Summer culture of 

 the second generation increased the proportion of the spring type to more than 

 3 : 1, but winter culture of the second generation reversed the proportion to 

 1 : 9.49. 



The author concludes that not only morphological, but also adaptive charac- 

 ters are capable of showing transmission according to Mendel's law. He also 

 found that the cultivated and wild forms of the cereals cross readily, and that 

 the tribe Hordeae is especially disposed to cross breeding. 



The feeding value of soiling crops at different stages of growth, H. von 

 Feilitzen (J^rcvska MosskiiUiirfdr. Tidslr., 20 (191)6), No. 1, pp. 72-77). — A 

 mixture of field peas, oats, and barley was grown on well decomposed marsh 

 soil, and three cuttings were made, the first at the beginning of bloom and the 

 second and third 10 and 20 days later, respectively. The largest yields of green 

 forage, protein, carbohydrates, and other food ingredients were obtained in 

 the last cutting, although the percentage content of the different constituents 

 was highest in the first cutting. It is recommended to cut leguminous soiling 

 crops when they have reached full bloom, as at this period the yields of both 

 dry matter and nutrients are much higher than at earlier stages. — f. w. woll. 



Alfalfa as a forage crop of Pennsylvania, G. C. Watson (Pennsylvania 

 Sta. Rpt. 1905, pp. 7^-86).— The culture and fertilizer tests with alfalfa at the 

 station for a series of years are summarized. 



In the experience of the station alfalfa grew in a compact, gravelly soil with 

 good drainage quite as well as in a loose loam. Heavy applications of phosphoric 

 acid and potash were very effective in improving the growth of the crop, but 5 

 tons of barnyard manure per acre gave better results than the phosphoric acid 

 and potash contained in 500 lbs. of a good brand of commercial fertilizer. 

 Turkestan alfalfa did not appear as valuable as the common alfalfa. It is 

 stated that fall-seeded alfalfa on dry land will withstand severe winters' in 

 Pennsylvania better than the common red clover. Where alfalfa grew vigor- 

 ously from the start nodule.^ appeared on the roots, but where the growth was 

 weak and slow few plants were provided with them. Lime was in no case 

 applied to advantage. In several instances alfalfa withstood the first winter, 

 but was completely killed out during the second. 



Inoculation experiments with alfalfa and soy beans, H. L. Russell and 

 R. A. MooRE (Wisconsin Sta. Rpt. 1905, pp. 2Ji2-261, p1. 1, figs. 6).— In the ex- 

 periments reported the seed was first disinfected and then inoculation was 

 brought about by the use of soil from previously cultivated alfalfa and soy bean 

 plats and by the use of bacterial cultures. The tests were made under green- 

 house and field conditions. 



Field peas were also included in a part of the tests. The work was carried 

 on for 2 seasons and the results seemed to warrant the conclusion that the 

 necessary nodule-producing organism for the field pea is sufficiently abundant 

 in the soils tested to make inoculation unnecessary. With alfalfa the inocula- 

 tion with soil emulsions or soil scattered broadcast over the plats was more 

 effective than the use of bacterial cultures. Soil from sweet clover fields or 

 emulsion made from the sweet clover nodules was effectively used for the in- 

 oculation of alfalfa. The use of bacterial cultures had no effect on the soy 

 bean, while seed infected with soil from an old soy bean field formed numerous 

 nodules. 



