38 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECORD. 



Department, were measured in hay production and in gain in steers per acre 

 that were pastured on the fields. 



The results of 3 years' investigations have shown that " in the grazing ex- 

 periments at Blacksburg, very little benefit was derived from the cultural treat- 

 ment by disking and harrowing of blue-grass sod, indicating that this practice 

 can not be recommended, at least without qualification. 



" Heavy grazing gave 1,485 lbs. of gain on 2* acres of land in 3 years. Light 

 grazing gave 838 lbs. of gain in the same time on an equal area. The heavily 

 grazed field had a more even turf and was much freer from weeds than the 

 lightly grazed field at the close of the 5 years' experiment. More blue-grass 

 pastures are injured by uudergrazing than by overgrazing. Heavy grazing is 

 not practicable on pastures used for finishing fat cattle, since it is necessary to 

 have a surplus of grass in order to do this. In this case it is recommended that 

 those areas of pasture that are worst infested with broom sedge and other weeds 

 be fenced and grazed down closely with young stock or sheep for 2 years, until 

 the sod has improved ; then the pasture can be used again to finish fat cattle. 



" Very little, if any, advantage was secured by grazing cattle in different 

 fields, alternately, as compared with continuous grazing on the same field. The 

 practice of alternate grazing is of doubtful value. 



" The results reported here were obtained on a limestone soil, and on a blue- 

 grass red-top pasture. Whether the same results would be obtained on other 

 types of soil or on other grasses, we can not say." 



A series of plat experiments with fertilizers for weed eradication is in progress, 

 and while not continued long enough to justify conclusions indicates that it 

 will pay to use from 200 to 300 lbs. acid phosphate per acre every five or six 

 years on ordinary blue-grass pastures. 



The premier clover for North Carolina farmers, C. B. Williams (North 

 Carolina Sta. Giro. 7 {1913), pp. 5).— ^Methods of culture, harvest, and grazing 

 are given for crimson clover with notes on food value. 



Crimson clover: Utilization, J. M. Westgate {U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers^ 

 Bui. 579 (1914), pp. 10, figs. 7).— Continuing a previous publication (E. S. R., 

 29, p. 633), the author discusses the time of cutting, harvesting, spontaneous 

 combustion, feeding value, and hair balls in considering crimson clover as a hay 

 crop. Instances are noted in which this crop has been also successfully used as 

 a soiling crop, as pasture, as a soil improver, and as a cover crop. 



The growth of maize on cogon soil, A. F. Navarro {PhUippine Agr. and 

 Forester, 2 {1912), No. 1-3, pp. 11-18).— This paper reports the results of pot 

 experiments in which cogon soils were leached with NH^, with water, burned, 

 and treated with chemical sterilizers, chemical fertilizers, stable manure, and 

 silkworm excrement. In order to discover a method of making this kind of 

 soil productive, leaf measurements of the corn plants were taken daily and 

 the following conclusions drawn : 



" The application of lime to cogon soil is decidedly beneficial. The cogon 

 soil used was deficient in nitrogen in whatever form. The applicaton of manure, 

 obtained from the stable or silkworm house, results in much more active 

 growth. The sterilization of the soil is beneficial. Various methods of improv- 

 ing the growth of maize on cogon land have been found, but no practical solu- 

 tion of the problem undertaken." 



Effects of applying commercial fertilizers to corn and cotton by different 

 methods, 0. B. Williams (North Carolina Sta. Circ. 8 (1913), pp. 4).— The 

 data show an increased yield with both corn and cotton when fertilizer was 

 applied in the furrow instead of broadcast. Fertilizer applied 3 times as deep 

 as usual had no influence over ordinary depth with corn. With cotton the 



