PlELt) CROPS. B3l 



phorbiace.T, Crncifera'. Papaveracete, Rosaceae, Solanaceas Rorajiiiiiicca', Coiivol-^ 

 vulacciv, ^'ol■b('lla(•«•i^', I'lantMiiinoa'. <ir (*ncu!i)itiic('a'. 



Among sptH-ios ol" seed lanuMiii,' Irdiii .".(> to (i(t years old, the author failetl 

 to get any geniiination of a uunil)er that have been rreiiuently reported by 

 other observers as having germinated after long periods of time. The oldest 

 seed, whieli had retained its vitality for SO years, inc-huled :} species of 

 leguminous seed protected by very thick integuments. In such seeds the seed 

 coats seemed, through their impernieal)ility, to have brought about a thorough 

 drying of tbe seed such as is artitif-ially i)roduced by drying over chemicals or 

 in vai-uum. and in this \\a\- the reserve material was protecleil from oxidation. 



FIELD CROPS. 



Crop rotation, ,T. S. Cole {Saiitli Ihtkodi ,sl(i. liul. !)S, pp. 7.7-/0,"?). — Tbe 

 experiment here reported has been in i)rogress since 181)7. F>arli(>r results 

 liave been iireviously noted (E. S. li., l.">. p. 287), and a revised outline is 

 here given. The purpose of the present bulletin is to show which crops 

 reduce soil fertility and which maintain its productivity. The best order of 

 succession of crops is also shown as indicated by these results. 



The best average yields of wheat were secured after either corn or potatoes. 

 Results following these two in order of merit were obtained from summer 

 fallow, millet, vetch, peas, wheat, and oats. The introduction of a tailtivated 

 crop into the rotation was found to become more important as the conditions 

 for the production of a maximum total crop were more unfavorable, especially 

 if due to a dry season. It was foinid that wheat is a more particular crop 

 than oats and recpiires a better place in the rotation. 



The culture of Canada lield peas and vetch increased the growth of straw in 

 the following crops, but gave no material increase in the yield of grain. This 

 was most marked where the peas were plowed under as green manure or fed 

 off with lR)gs. Oreen manuring with peas has so far shown no benefits over 

 a summer fallow. 



At the end of 8 years land growing wheat and corn alternately is producing 

 better total crops of wheat than land growing wheat alternately with vetch 

 and witli summer fallow. .Manuring laud gi'uwing wheat alone has so far not 

 been profitable, but a decided ])rofit was secur(>d in manuring land for corn. 

 Where the corn crop ^\•as manured a residual effect was observed for at least 

 4 years. 



It is believed that in tbe Ix'st rotations lor South Dal^ula tlic laud should l)i> 

 sown to some perennial grass for a short t(>rm of years and tli;it brome grass 

 is well adapted to this use. 



Flax was not more exhausti\(' of the fertility of the soil than the other gi'ain 

 crops. 



Results of culture experiments in 1905 {.(Ihodlchinin Otchct I'lotij. Srlsk. 

 Kfidz. Opidlii. sliiiitziJ. 11 il'.xi.')). itj,. .}:,-7,>. I.i.')-Lri). — In a dry season the 

 inHnen<c of tlie liarc fallow and of the de])th (tf working the soil was very 

 feeble, but the use of liarnyai-d ni:inure in growing legiuninous forage i)lants 

 gav«> good results. Of dill'crcnt commercial fertilizers used the phosphates 

 were most effective, giving an apparent increase of l().r> per cent in the cereal 

 crops and of 2.5 i)er cent in tlie crop of sugar beets. The leading varieties of 

 winter wheat were Banat and Cham])agne. both e.-ii-ly sorts, yielding 1,770 kg. 

 of grain per hectare, followed by Don. ;i medium early variety, with about the 

 same yield. 



Owing to the dry .si>ason the spring wheat varieties gave but small yields, 



