432 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. 



Nov. 28, and the young plants a month later reduced to 15 of equal size per pot. 

 Two check pots received no further addition, 2 received 10 gm. of crystallized 

 magnesium sulphate in high dilution, and 2 received eaeli 50 gm. of the same 

 salt. 



It was found that an excess of magnesia over lime retarded growth and 

 maturity in i)roportion to the amount of magnesia in excess. A moderate excess 

 of this substance did not diminish the number of shoots, but a large excess 

 reduced the number of stalks developed by the plant. It was also shown that 

 large quantities of magnesia in the soil diminished the strength of the leaf 

 sheath and of the stalks. 



Indian com, A. M. Ten Eyck and V. JNI. Shoesmith {Kansas Sta. Bui. i//7, 

 pp. 225-295, figs. 26). — The experiments reported have as a rule been in 

 progress from 1903 to 190G, inclusive. Of 112 varieties tested during this time, 

 Hildreth, Kansas Sunflower, McAuley, Forsythe Favorite, Golden Row, Ham- 

 mett. Learning. U. S. P. B. Selection No. 77, Hogne Yellow Dent, Sanders 

 Improved, White Salamander, Red Cob White Dent, White Injun, Legal Tender, 

 Warner, Mammoth Golden Yellow, Dyche, INIeinhardt, and Hiawatha Yellow 

 Dent were superior in productiveness. From 121 to 143 days, with an average 

 of 129 days, were required to mature corn in 1905. Of the better yielding 

 varieties grown for the 4 years, IG maturing in 126 days or less produced on an 

 average 61.45 bu. per acre, while 19 ripening in 127 days or more yielded 64.94 

 bu. per acre. 



For the 4 years listing early in the spring and splitting the ridges at planting 

 time gave an average increase of 5.02 bu. per acre over giving no early culti- 

 vation. Early listing produced better results and also conserved more water 

 in the soil than early disking. Surface-planted corn yielded on an average 

 G.65 bu. more corn and 469 lbs. more stover per acre than listed corn. The 

 wet seasons favored surface planting and the dry Reasons listing. A test of 

 different methods of planting in 1905 resulted in a yield per acre of 53.24 bu. 

 for surface planting with the disk furrow-opener attachment, 51.94 bu. for 

 ordinary surface planting, and 48.33 bu. for listing. 



Soil moisture studies in this connection showed without exception that as 

 compared with surface planting listing favored the conservation of soil 

 moisture in the latter part of the season. This is considered as due possibly 

 to the roots lying relatively deeper in the soil and allowing for somewhat deeper 

 cultivation, but also to the fact that the listed corn was laid by with level culti- 

 vation while the surface-planted corn was slightly hilled. During 2 seasons 

 the largest average yields were secured by planting May 26, and the results 

 in general apparently favor rather late planting as compared with early 

 planting. The difference in results from various methods of cultivating corn 

 was not sufficient for very definite conclusions. It appeared that the exact 

 method of cultivation, whether deep or shallow, was not of so great importance 

 as the conditions of soil or season as related to the proper time of cultivation. 

 The soil moisture determinations showed no marked variation on the several 

 plats. 



In the comparative fertilizer tests in 1906 the largest yield, 56.63 bu. per acre, 

 was secured on land treated with barnyard manure at the rate of 13 tons per 

 acre. The next largest yield, 40 bu. per acre, was obtained on the plat treated 

 with 50 lbs. of nitrate of soda applied broadcast. The average production of 

 the unfertilized land was 33.21 bu. per acre. 



The results of rotation tests for 4 years were as follows: Corn after potatoes, 

 69.98 bu. per acre, after soy beans, 67.55 bu., and after coi*n, 60.74 bu., while 

 after wheat, barley, oats, and emmer the yields were smaller than whei*e corn 



