234 EXPERIMENT STATION" RECORD. 



[Field crop tests in the Fiji Islands], C. H. Knowles {Rpt. Agr. Fiji,'i910, 

 pp. 8-11). — Brief reports are given on work at tlie Lautoka Station witli cotton 

 planted continuously, and cotton planted after corn, rice, and green manure 

 crops. The cost of lint per pound ranged from 8s. 9d. to 13s. Sd. Other work 

 reported included a fertilizer test with cotton, a date of cutting test with sisal 

 hemp, a variety test of corn, and a test of a rice huller and polisher. The cost 

 per bushel of growing corn of the 4 varieties tested ranged from Is. 2d. to 2s. 2d. 



[Variety and other tests], J. W. Hadfield {Agr. Oaz. N. 8. Wales, 23 (1912), 

 No. 2, pp. 115-121, figs. 5). — Tests of varieties of wheat, oats, and mixed sowings 

 of barley with rape and vetch are reported. Barley and rape proved the most 

 effective winter mixture. 



[Tests of new grasses], J. Duncan (Jour. New Zeal. Dcpt. Agr., 4 (1912), 

 No. 2, pp. Ill, 112). — Festuca dumetorum is noted as giving special promise of 

 proving a valuable grass at Kaitaia and Okerama In the Whangarei district. 

 Other grasses tested were F. arenari, Agropyrum stnithU, A. repens, Phalaris 

 commutata, P. caroliniana, Paspalum dilatatum, P. virgatum, and Chloris 

 gayana. 



The influence of time of cutting' upon the yield and composition of hay, 

 C. Crowtheb and A. G. Ruston [Jour. Agr. Bci., 4 {1912), No. 3, pp. 305-317). — 

 The author presents mechanical and chemical analyses of the soil of the York- 

 shire farm on which the hay used in 'these experiments was grown in 1909-10. 

 The hay was a mixture of rye grass and rib grass with various clovers. 



In 1909 the first cutting was made June 10 when the rye grass was in full 

 flower and later cuttings on June 28, July 15, and Ajigust 3. Analyses of the 

 hay indicate that the proportion of crude fiber increased steadily throughout 

 the entire period, that the proportion of amids fell gi'adually up to the third 

 cutting after which the reduction was very pronounced, and that a fall in pro- 

 portion of true i>rotein during the moist latter half of June was followed by a 

 steady rise up to the time of the fourth cutting. The proportion of carbohy- 

 di-ates gradually fell after the second cutting, but the proportion of pentosans 

 was relatively high throughout the period. The ash increased in richness in 

 silica, but the proportion of potash and phosphoric acid tended to fall. Tables 

 state in detail the numerical data obtained in the tests, and the author concludes 

 from the 2 years' work that the nature of the changes depends upon the char- 

 acter of the season. 



In 1909, when the season favored steady growth, the production of protein 

 and fiber was steady and the assimilation of each of the ingredients, particu- 

 larly silica, was considerable. In 1910, a severe climatic setback in the latter 

 part of June was followed by an almost complete suspension of growth and 

 notably of protein production. During both seasons there was a steady fall in 

 the digestibility of hay, which in the end more than counterbalanced the increase 

 in yield. 



The best results followed cutting about July 1, but a latitude of a week or 10 

 days " may be allowed, however, without very seriously impairing the nutritive 

 ■\ alue of the crop." After July 15, however, appreciable deterioration occurred. 



Teste on natural pastures, C. Dusserr(e {Ann. Agr. Suisse, 12 {1911), No. 2, 

 pp. 155-162). — These pages report the results of fertilizer tests on natural 

 pastures conducted for a nimiber of years at each of several points in the can- 

 tons of Neuchatel and Valais, Switzerland. 



Applications of (1) 570 kg. per hectare (512.64 lbs. per acre) of 14 per cent 

 Thomas slag, (2) 240 kg. per hectare of 60 per cent chlorid of potash, and (3) 

 the 2 applications together ranked in the order named in one locality as to net 

 profits. In another locality applications of (1) 400 kg. of a 30 per cent potash 

 salt, (2) 480 kg. of 17 per cent superphosphate, and (3) the 2 applications to- 



