FIELD CROPS. 39 



is reprcHlnced to show the conditions of alfalfa culture and that of other crops 

 under irri^ntion in various sections and its possibilities. 



Corn and cotton experiments for 1908, W. C. Welborn (Texas 8ta. Bui. 

 120, pp. 3-16). — Three acres well fertilized for cotton in 1907 were prepared in 

 three different ways during the winter for corn in 1!)08. The first acre plat, listed 

 ci in. deep on the old cotton middle, produced 33.15 bu.. the second, bedded on 

 center furrow 6 in. deep, produced 31.85 bu., and the third, flat brolcen 6 in. 

 dt^p, 33.S bu. Fertilizer tests with corn were vitiated, but the results brought 

 out that corn, sorghum, and crab grass all on the same land in one season tend 

 to reduce the yield of a following corn crop. In an ear-row test in which 4 

 rows were planted from each e;ir the average percentage of difference in yield 

 between the highest and lowest rows from each ear was 27 per cent. These re- 

 sults lead the author to doubt the value of tlie ear-row method of testing corn 

 and he states that the individual grain is the unit and not the individual ear. 



A comparative test was made of a number of varieties of corn exhibited at 

 the State Fair, of corn selected by the ear-row method at the station, and of 

 crib selected seed of unknown breeding. Poor stands of all were secured and 

 the reiilants did poorly. The home-grown varieties gare the better stand, but 

 the yields of all were low. Of the 32 varieties of corn exhibited only one 

 showed a material increase in yield over tlie home-grown corn. 



Different methods of preparing land for cotton resulted in no material differ- 

 ence in yield. In 3 tests of each method the following average yields of seed 

 cotton per acre were secured : With center furrow 800 lbs., without center fur- 

 row 797 lbs., with plowing 3 in. deep 793 lbs., and with plowing 6 in. deep 815 

 Ihs. The results of fertilizer tests with cotton are not considered very decisive. 

 The use of 200 lbs. of acid phosphate was practically as effective as when 15 

 lbs. of nitrateof soda and 75 lbs. of cotton-seed meal had been given in addi- 

 tion and 200 lbs. of acid phosjihate with 100 lbs. of cotton-seed meal gave better 

 yields apparently than the complete application. The greatest increase in 

 yield was derived from the use of about 250 lbs. of dried ground cow manure 

 per acre applied with 175 lbs. or 190 lbs. of acid phosphate. 



Varieties were compared in 12 one-acre fields by growing several varieties, 

 always including Bennett Selection. Bennett Selection gave an average of 282 

 lbs. of lint in all fields, the value of the lint at 8^ cts. per pound together with 

 the seed being .$20.93 per acre. Excelsior grown in but one field gave a return 

 of .$5.31 more than Bennett Selection in that field and Yellow Bloom in the 

 same field surpassed it by .38 cts. One lot of King seed gave better and another 

 lot poorer results than Bennett Selection. Early Prolific, Cook Improved, 

 Boyett (iin Run, Toole, and Schley gave smaller yields than Bennett Selection. 

 Notes on large bolls, earliness, percentage of lint, thick and thin seeding and 

 planting are given. 



Local fertilizer experiments with cotton in 1905, 1906, 1907, and 1908, 

 .7. F. DuoGAR (Alabama ('ollcyr Hfn. Hid. I'/o, pp. 25-78). — This bulletin reports 

 the results of cooperative fertilizer tests on cotton carried out on the principal 

 types of soil f)f the State. These reports represent 10 tests made in 1905. 13 in 

 1900, 10 in 1907, and 22 in 1908. The rainfall during the 4 years ranged from 

 48.10 in. in 1908 to 56.56 in. in 1906, with an average of 51 in. The fertilizer 

 applications i)er acre included 2(M) lbs. of cotton-seed meal, 240 lbs. of icid 

 [thospliate and 100 or 200 lbs. of kainit, alone and in the various combinations. 

 The results of each individual test are given, together with the average increase 

 apparently due to the use of each one of the substances. 



The highest average increase in seed cotton secured with cotton-seed meal in 

 all the tests was 478 lbs. per acre on gray soil with red subsoil. This result 



89G16— No. 1—09 4 



