FIELD CROPS. 231 



(iekls under test as against 0.1)5 and l.(Ki jier cent about July 1. Two cuttings 

 lirt)duced more hay but less nitrojjen than 4 cuttings. 



Phosphoric acid and potash requirements of meadows, P. Liechti (Landiv. 

 Jahrb. Schtceiz, 23 (1909), .Ao. 1, pi). 2~)-61). — Cooperative fertilizer experi- 

 ments including 579 individual tests were made in different parts of Switzer- 

 land, and the results secured by each experimenter are given in a table with 

 brief comments. Phosphoric acid was applied at the rate of 80 kg. per hectare 

 (about 71.2 lbs. per acre), potash at the rate of 120 kg. (about 106.8 lbs.), and 

 lime at the rate of 500 kg. (about 445 lbs.). In this work potash and phos- 

 phoric acid were applied annually. 



In 61.3 per cent of the tests phosjihoric acid used alone gave an increase in 

 yield, the highest increase being 2,4S0 kg. per hectare (about 2,200 lbs. per 

 acre). Potash used alone gave an increase in 52.2 per cent of the ex[)eriments, 

 and where the two substances were ai)i)lied together an increase in yield resulted 

 in 79.5 per cent of the tests. Lime in addition to phosjihoric acid and potash 

 did not seeui very effective, an increase in yield having been secured in only 

 two out of seven cases. The average increase due to the use of liquid manure 

 applied alone, with superphosphate, and with superphosphate and lime amounted 

 to about 22 per cent. 



Methods of harvesting hay, N. P. Nielsen (Tidsskr. Landbr. Planteavl, 

 15 (1908), Xo. 3, piK -',07-416).— At the Tystofte Experiment Station vetch and 

 oat haj' was cured in cocks on the ground and on curing racks. The hay cured 

 on the ground contained 19.58 i)er cent moisture in the samples analyzed, and 

 that cured on the racks 20.45 per cent. Chemical analyses showed but small 

 differences in composition in favor of rack curing. Ilay of excellent quality 

 was secured by both methods. 



Alfalfa culture, C. G. Williams (Ohio Sta. Circ. 91, pp. 8). — The needs of 

 the alfalfa plant are pointed out and directions for its culture in Ohio are given. 



In a seeding test at the station a crop sown at the rate of 15 lbs. per acre 

 ))roduced 8,678 lbs. of hay per acre in 3 cuttings, but this was only .30 lbs. more 

 than was produced by a crop sown at the rate of 10 lbs. of seed per acre. The 

 yield of hay from 20 lbs. of seed per acre was 8,557 lbs., from 25 lbs. of seed 

 7,876 lbs., and from 5 lbs. of seed 7,862 lbs. of hay. These plats were seeded 

 June 27, 1907, and a comparison of the stand July 31, 1907, and May 2, 1908, 

 showed a shrinkage of 15.3 per cent where 5 lbs. of seed was used and of 30 per 

 cent where 25 lbs. was used. 



In 1907 a field of alfalfa sown June 27 and partly clipped September 9 and 

 October 16 gave smaller yields on the cli])ped than on the undipped portions. 



In 1908 at the station red clover yielded 4.34 tons of hay per acre in 2 cuttings 

 and alfalfa 4.66 tons in 3 cuttings. Analyses made by the station show that 

 100 lbs. of leaves contain as much protein as 240 lbs. of stems. 



Variety and distance tests of corn, G. M. Macnider et al. (Bui. A'. C. Dept. 

 Agr., SO (1909), ^'o. 2, pp. 5^7').— Experiments have been conducted at Edge- 

 combe Farm on Norfolk sandy and fine sandy loam, at Iredell Farm on Cecil 

 clay and Cecil sandy loam, at Transylvania Farm on a dark heavy loam known 

 as Toxaway loam, and at Buncombe Farm on Porter's loam. The results with 

 varieties of corn are tabulated in detail, notes on the varieties grown in 1908 

 are given, and the principal early, medium, and late varieties as well as those 

 best adapted to certain sections of the State are mentioned. \'ariety tests were 

 conducted at the Transylvania Farm only in 1906 and at the Buncombe Farm 

 only in 14)08. 



The following varieties have thus far given the highest average yields of 

 shelled corn : At Edgecombe Farm Cocke I'rolific, Weekley Improved, Sanders 

 Improved, and Holt Strawberry ; at Iredell Farm Weekley Improved, Sanders 



