FIELD CROPS. 1121 



On March 10. 228 of the very lifjht, 204 of the light, 273 of the mediuni, and 305 

 of the heavy seeds had senninated. In a test of heavy and of nnseparated seed 

 at Lamar, S. C, the yield of seed cotton from 20 rows from heavy seed was 103 

 lbs., or 10.1) per cent, si'eator than the yield from the nnseparated seed. In a 

 test at Ilartsville, S. ('., the heavy seed yielded SS.3 lbs. of seed cotton, or 8.25 

 |)er cent, more than the nnseparated seed. It is i)ointed ont that if the seed 

 cdtlon is rated at 4 cts. ;i iK)nnd the differences in yields obtained at Lam;ir .nnd 

 Ilartsville are approximately .$4.12 and .$3.55 per acre, respectively. 



In connection with exiK'riments in 1006 by W. A. Orton of this Department 

 with Sea Isl:iiid cotton st>ed in rows of equal length, the germination was as 

 rdliows : I,iu:lit seed ISS pl.nnts, heavy seed 327 plants, and imseparated seed 237 

 jiiants. A lot of S5 ll)s. of Sea Island cotton seed, separated cm a machine con- 

 strnct(>d on tlie plan of that devised and described by the authors of tlie bulletin, 

 consisted of 7('> lbs. of cleaned seed, 7* lbs. of imperfect seed, and IJ lbs. of 

 cotton. It is believed that this sei)aration might have been improved by running 

 the cleaned seed through the separator a second time under an increascMl air 

 ])]ast. as the large percentage of cleaned seed indicates insufficient separation. 



Comparative value of whole cotton seed and cotton-seed meal in fer- 

 tilizing cotton, E. B. lioYKTN {U. /S. Dcpt. Agr., Fanners' Bui. 28(1. pp. Uf, 

 fif/s. 2). — This bulletin discusses the use of cotton seed for a fertilizer, j)oints 

 out the profit to gi-owers by disjiosing of the seed, suggests methods of cotton 

 seed preservation, and reports the results of experiments conducted for 2 years, 

 in which whole cotton seed and cotton-seed meal \vere compared as fertilizers 

 for cotton. .\ dark sand.v loam with a clay subsoil was selected for these tests. 

 Forty bush(4s of seed per acre were compared with (iOO llis. of meal, .30 bu. with 

 4,50 lbs., iind 20 bu. with .300 lbs. 



It is believed that the results " amply .justify the assumption that 000 lbs. of 

 meal is at least equivalent to a ton of seed in effect on the crop; that is, on 

 such land as was used for this experiment." 



Varieties of cotton, 1905 and 1906, W. R. Perkins (Mis.sis.'iippi Hta. liul. 

 !)S. ])]). .',). — This bulletin is a brief report on variety tests with cotton for 1005 

 :ind T.Mh;. In 1005 the difference in value of crop between the poorest and the best 

 yi(4d was .f;2(;..si jicr acr(>. juul in I'.toc. .$1!).25. In 1005 the leading varieties, 

 based on the value i)roduced i)er acre, were in the'order mentioned: Coolc Im- 

 proved. Toole Early. Layton Inqa'oved, Truitt, and Lewis Prize; and in 1000 the 

 5 leading varieties on the same b.asis were Cook Imjiroved. Cleveland Rig I'oll, 

 Eureka. Triuni])h, and I'eterkin. 



Cowpeas, A. I<1 (Jrantiiam (MUsoitri Hta. Bill. 7,?. /*/). 60. finn. i)). — It was 

 ascertained that cowpeas can be grown successfully in all Missouri soils, and that 

 iis much forage can lie jirodnced from tliis ci'op in so da.xs as red cloxcr will .vield 

 in 15 months. 



In the southern i)art of the State cowi)eas m;iy be i)lanted with corn aiul cut 

 together for silage to good advantage. In this jiai't of the State, also, cowpeas 

 may I'ollnw wheat or oats and i)roduce a crop of liay or jiasture before fall seed- 

 ing. In northern Missouri this latter ]iractice is successful only in favorable 

 seasons or witb an early ni;ituring xariet.v. It is stated that growing cowpeas 

 not onl.v increases the fertilit.v of the soil, but also iHq)i"oves its jjhysical condi- 

 tion, making it more o])en, friable, more easily worked, and increasing its mois- 

 ture-holding capacit.v. The crop is also said to caiise the soil to drv out earlier 

 in the spring. The Whii)poorwill variety is reconnnended for general ])urposes 

 and the New Era for a c:itch crop or for a short season. When the i)eas are not 

 to be cultivated 4 or 5 iil<. of seed jter acrt^ is re(|uired. but if cultivation is to be 

 given 5 to 8 (jt. will be sullicient. 



