828 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



pheric nitrogeu iu the complete absence of combined nitrogen under the con- 

 ditions here employed. 



Indications regarding the source of combined nitrogen for Ulva lactuca, 

 G. L. Foster (Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard., 1 (1914), No. 2, pp. 229-235) .—Work- 

 ing on the general question as to the sources of nitrogen for marine algse, the 

 author carried out some preliminary experiments to determine the sources of 

 available nitrogen for U. lactuca. 



From the growth and appearance of this alga in natural and in artificial sea 

 water with ammonium, urea, acetamid, etc., it was found that the first two 

 of these nitrogen sources named are considerably better nutrients for Ulva than 

 the others, in either natural or artificial sea water. It is thought probable that 

 TJlva is not limited to an inorganic nitrogen supply and that for this alga the 

 amount of available nitrogen in the water is a limiting factor in growth. 



Concerning a plurality of starches, C. Taneet (Compt. Rend. Acad. 8ci. 

 [Paris], 158 (1914), No. 19, pp. 1353-1356) .—From a study of starches from 

 oats, bananas, wheat, chestnuts, beans, lentils, maize, barley, peas, apples, rice, 

 buclfwheat, rye, and potatoes, the author claims to have found that they not 

 only have different proportions of amylopectin and amylose, but that they react 

 quite differently to physical and other agents, indicating that starches are not 

 all alilie. 



FIELD CROPS. 



The work of the Huntley reclamation project experiment farm in 1913, 

 D. Hansen (U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus., Work Huntley Expt. Farm, 

 1913, pp. 14, figs. 5). — This describes the climatic and agricultural conditions 

 of the Huntley, Mont., project and reports experimental work, which includes 

 crop rotation, time and methods of planting alfalfa, time of harvesting alfalfa, 

 tests of pasture grasses, variety tests of corn, irrigation of flax, fertilizer tests 

 with wheat, oats, and barley, and test of orchard trees and small fruits, and 

 pasturing corn and alfalfa with hogs. 



" The chief results from the rotation experiments in 1913 are the following : 

 Decidedly better yields were produced with crops grown in rotation than with 

 the same crops grown continuously on the same land. The yields indicate that 

 the practice of plowing under alfalfa and of applying barnyard manure greatly 

 increases the productivity of the soil. The beneficial effect on the soil of grow- 

 ing cultivated crops, particularly sugar beets and potatoes, was strongly 

 indicated." 



The results of the time-of -cutting experiment " indicate that delaying the 

 harvest of the first crop did not have the effect of reducing the yield of the 

 second crop. There was, on the contrary, a consistent increase in the yield of 

 the second crop as the growing period of the first crop increased. The yields 

 obtained in 1913 indicate that three cuttings a year will be more profitable 

 than four cuttings." 



Of several methods employed in the reclamation of the Worden tract it is 

 noted that " determinations of the total salt content of the soil indicate that 

 the practice of plowing under rye as a green-manure crop has been more 

 effective than either of the other methods in reducing the salt content. This 

 method has also been found to be much less expensive." 



The work of the Truckee-Carson reclamation project experiment farm in 

 1913, F. B. Headley (V. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus., Work Trmkee- 

 Carson Expt. Farm, 1913, pp. 1-8, 10, ii).— These pages record the soil and 

 climatic conditions at the Truckee-Carson experiment farm and include data 

 showing acreage, yields, and farm values of crops grown on this project in 1913. 



