FIELD CROPS. 139 



It was also obsorveil that mangels and sugar beets when grown continuously 

 on the same land for 4 years were much more susceptible to leaf spot th;;n when 

 grown in a rotation with other crops. The results secvired with 5 varieties of 

 mangels with and without rotation showed a gain of 24 tons in total yield and of 

 3 tons iu dry matter per acre as apparently due to rotation with other crops. 

 In the case of sugar beets* the results showed a gain of 1.9 tons in total yield or 

 21 per cent, and i ton of dry matter or 24 per cent increase per acre in favor of 

 rotation. The increase in the dry matter was entirely in sugar, which increased 

 45 per cent. Data are brought together showing the composition of mangels 

 since 1S52 and pointing out that the average composition of the mangel to-day 

 is practically tlie same as it was 50 years ago. Attention is called to the fact 

 that during the past 40 years the value of the sugar beet for sugar production 

 has l)een increased 50 per cent. 



Alfalfa in Indiana, A. T. Wiancko (Indiana Sta. Bui. 122, pp. 141-154). — 

 The first part of this bulletin gives the results of experiments in late summer 

 seeding, and the second part presents suggestions for beginners in alfalfa 

 culture. 



On the university farm in 1905 alfalfa was seeded August 17, a good growth 

 was secured, and the young crop passed the winter successfully. In 190G an 

 effort was made to determine the practicabilitj' of late seeding by similar experi- 

 ments in various parts of the State. Arrangements were made and tests were 

 reported from 57 different farms located in 42 different counties. The reports 

 showed good results with various dates of seeding all through the month of 

 August. Of 38 plats sown from August 7 to 15, 34 gave satisfactory fall growth 

 and 19 of these were in good or fair condition at the end of April. Of 19 plats 

 sown later than August 15, 12 gave a satisfactory fall growth and 10 of these 

 were in good or fair condition at the end of April. Of 57 reports 30 consider 

 that the fall weather was favorable, and of the 44 reporting good stands 10 say 

 that the fall weather was rather too dry and 5 very dry. The reports do not 

 seem to show any relation between the date of seeding and the amount of winter- 

 killing. Of 52 experimenters reporting on the spring condition, 23 reported less 

 than 10 per cent of damage by winterkilling, 11 from 10 to 30 per cent, and 18 

 over 30 per cent. In some cases the damage was largely due to standing water 

 and ice. There was more or less winterkilling on all types of soils, but relatively 

 less on the lighter soil. 



It is also shown that of 13 tests on pure clays all gave good or fair stands, 

 of 38 tests on clay or clay loam soils 28 gave good or fair stands, and of 15 on 

 sandy or sandy loam soils 14 gave good or fair stands. The preceding crop had 

 no appreciable effect upon the results except that standing corn seemed to act 

 unfavorably. In many cases the use of either manure or commercial fertilizers 

 for the crop proved of considerable value. Observations on the presence of 

 nodules and on the practice of inoculation indicated that some special form of 

 inoculation is pi'obably necessary in one-half of the cases where alfalfa is first 

 introduced. 



The improvement of corn, A. M. Soule and P. O. Vanatter (Virginia Sta. 

 Bill. 16.',, pp. .9/-i,S'.5, fiijs. J,8). — The first part of this bulletin is devoted to the 

 improvement of corn, and the second part to the basis for this improvement. 



Among the best varieties of corn tested at this station are Boone County 

 White, Cocke Prolific, Snow White Dent, Virginia Station Learning Ear No. 37, 

 and Virginia Golden Dent, these having made yields respectively of 78.57, 77.08, 

 75.S9. 75.89, and 71.43 bu. per acre. Learning is considered one of the best 

 varieties for high elevations, and Hickory King for soils of medium fertility. 

 The period of tasseling with the 20 varieties under test commenced July 1 and 



1276G— No. 2—07 1 



