836 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



better timbered lands of north Missouri, and the more fertile valley lands of 

 the Ozark region. The number of failures was largest on the level prairie 

 lands. 



The application of manure was found beneficial and often necessary in 

 securing a satisfactory stand on most upland soils. The use of bone meal on 

 the upland soils, which are mostly lacking in available phosphates, appeared 

 profitable. Most of the soils of the State adapted to alfalfa growing are well 

 supplied with lime carbonate and hence lime did not usually give profitable 

 returns. In most cases inoculation of the soil was found beneficial or neces- 

 sary, and cultivation of the crop with the disk or spring-tooth harrow was 

 found effective in preventing the growth of grasses during late summer. 



Alfalfa seed production, R. W. Thatcher (Washington Sta. Popular Bid. 

 J/2, pp. 4). — Cooperative work of the station and this Department in the pro- 

 duction of alfalfa seed is briefly reported. 



Thinning experiments carried on in this connection showed conclusively 

 that a much better yield of seed may be obtained from a thin than from a 

 dense stand of alfalfa, but the work is to be continued. From the results of 

 some of the experiments, as well as observations made in another connection, 

 it appears probable that with proper thinning large crops of seed may be 

 secured. 



The development of the grain of barley, Winifred E. Brenchley (Ann. 

 Dot. [London], 26 (1912), ^o. 103, pp. 903-928, figs. 22).— Pursuant to previous 

 studiei? on the development of the grain in wheat (E. S. R., 24, p. 37), the 

 author investigated samples of barley from plants so selected as to show the 

 results obtained (1) from a nitrogenous general manuring, (2) a rotation 

 without any addition of manure, and (3) phosphoric acid starvation in the 

 presence of a sufficiency of nitrogen and of potash and other alkalis. The re- 

 sults may be summarized as follows: 



The weight of the plant as a whole, also of the nitrogen, phosphoric acid, 

 and ash, increase until desiccation begins about 3 weeks before harvest. 

 After this the ash decreases somewhat, while the nitrogen and phosphoric 

 acid continue fairly constant. The phosphoric acid-starved plat, in case of 

 barley, showed somewhat abnormal results, esi^ecially in the analysis of the 

 straw. During the longer desiccation period of barley certain maturation 

 changes are evident which are hardly noticeable in wheat, which is cut earlier 

 in its development. The infiltration of starch progresses from the chalazal 

 end toward the embiyo. As the barley grain develops, nuclear changes appear, 

 thought to be due to pressure from increase of starch. The nuclei lose their 

 nucleoli and become deformed progressively from both ends of the grain toward 

 the middle, the last cells involved being those of the subaleuronic layer of the 

 endosperm. 



[Clover tests in Denmark], E. Lindhard (Tidsslcr. Landhr. Planteavl, 19 

 (1912), No. 1, pp. l-'f3). — The experiments reported include variety and rate 

 of seeding tests conducted at Danish experiment stations with alsike clover, 

 white clover, yellow trefoil, and kidney vetch. Seed grown in various counties 

 was also tested. 



Increasing the yield of a strain of Reid yellow dent, J. R. Hall (Col. 

 Farmer [Univ. Missouri^, 9 (1912), No. J,, pp. 7, S, fig. i).— The author sum- 

 marizes some results of Williams and Welton already noted (E. S. R., 23, p. 37). 



From his own exiieriments he concludes that it is impossible to detect the 

 highest yielding ears of seed corn by inspection, but he states some indications 

 of high yielding power. In a 2 years' test the ears over 9 in. averaged 3.68 bu. 

 higher yields than those under 9 in. in length. Cylindrical ears yielded 1.5 bu. 

 per acre more than tapering ears, moderately smooth ears yielded 4.87 bu. 



