FIELD CROPS. 1089 



discussed, ;iih1 .i miiiihci' u|' \;irietios of the '2 crops described. Notes iire also 

 iciveu on a muHi)er of luiscellaneous foraye croi)s. 



The best average yield of soy beans, 21.3 bu. per acre for .3 years, was secured 

 from i)lanting 24 lbs. of seed i)er acre in drills '.'>2 In. apart and cnltivatins the 

 rvo]\. A plat broadcasted at the rate of 14 bu. of seed per acre k-'ivc an averaj^e 

 yield for the H years of only 10.7 Ini. The connnon wheat drill was found the 

 most convenient and most satisfactory machine for plantint; both soy Iteans and 

 cowpeas, and detailed directions for its use in this connection are given. 



The earliest variety of soy beans, Very Dwarf Brown, ripened about August 

 lO. and the latest. Medium Early Yellow, about October 21. The late varieties 

 gave as a rule heavier yields than the early maturing sorts. Tii(» largest 

 average yield. 22.2 bu. per acre, was secured from Medium (ireen, and the 

 smallest, 9..j bu., from Very Dwarf Brown. 



Among the varieties of cowpeas grown for forage in 1905, the highest average 

 yield, 7,G00 lbs. of hay per acre, was secured from Clay 1.34.58, followed by Iron 

 with a yield of 7,400 lbs. per acre. 



In connection with a descrii)tion of a number of miscellaneous forage plants, 

 a succession of crops for soiling purposes is outlined. 



Haymaking at Kenai Experiment Station, 1'. H. Ross (AJasJca Sta. Bill. 

 S. lip. l-i. III. 1). — Tlie experiments in making hay in 1005 and 1906 are briefly 

 described. All cuttings were either oat hay or native hay {Calatuaijro.siis 

 Uuigsdorfii), with the exception of 1 cutting of barley. 



The author recommends cutting oats for hay when in the milk stage and the 

 native grass when in full bloom. The hay should be stirred with a fork to 

 leave it in a loosened condition shortly after cutting, so that the air will pass 

 through it freely. Medium size, well-made cocks are advised so that the rains 

 may do no damage and. the curing process may go on. The shortest time in 

 which hay was cured well was 10 days and the longest 25 days. 



Alfalfa in Ohio, C. G. Williams and C. H. Kyle (Ohio Sta, Bui. 181, pp. 

 111-13.')). — The results with alfalfa at the experiment station and the experi- 

 ence of alfalfa growers througliout the State are reviewed. 



It was found that upland clay and sandy tirst and. second bottom lands have 

 jiroduced the heaviest maximum and average yields. All sandy upland and clay 

 first and second bottom lands produced the lowest yields. Good yields and 

 poor yields have been produced on all classes of soils, including muck. It was 

 observed that the presence or absence of drainage, humus, limestone, and inocu- 

 lation, and the degree of perfection of the seed bed, were usually the controlling 

 factors in the growth of the crop. The yields on clay upland with natural sur- 

 face drainage were 12 per cent greater where tiles were also used. Sandy soil 

 or soil with a very poor sul)soil is considered as usually not sufficiently retentive 

 of moisture to insure certain results on upland. The soils which heaved the 

 .ilfalfa were either poor in drainage or in humus, or in both combined. 



The average yields from soils rich, fairly rich, and poor in humus were 

 respectively 4.25. 3.75. and 3.33 tons per acre. At the station an alfalfa plat 

 receiving 8 tons of manure per acre gave a yield of 10,275 lbs., or 1,.347 lbs. per 

 acre more than unfertilized plats. The use of lime on acid soils is recommended, 

 and it is pointed out that fields on hillsides and upland usually become acid 

 before those on bottoms. Inoculation with soil was found much better than 

 inoculation with liquid cultures. It is stated that alfalfa may be seeded at any 

 time after spring frosts are over until the middle of August, provided the seed 

 bed is in proper condition. 



Corn breeding and registration, ('. G. Williams {Ohio 8tit. Circ. 66, pp. l). 

 il(jmis. 6). — This circular contains a detailed description of growing seed corn 



