53-1: EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. 



1.42 per ceut, kinds uf weed seeds 5.2, weight of 1,000 red clover seeds 

 1,580 mg., germination of red clover seed 98.8 per cent, price per 100 lbs. at 

 which seed was offered for sale $15.05, seed that germinated in sample 96.55 

 per cent, actual cost of 100 lbs. of red clover seed that germinated $15.58. 

 Many of the low-grade samples contained dodder, while in the 5 high-grade 

 samples no dodder was present. 



Analysis of IG sami)les of imported low-grade alfalfa seed gave the following 

 average results : Alfalfa seed 86.44 per cent, other seeds 4.89 per cent, dirt and 

 broken seed 8.68 per cent, kinds of weed seeds 15.75, weight of 1,000 alfalfa 

 seeds 1,580 mg., germination of alfalfa seed 51.47 per cent, price per 100 lbs. 

 at which seed was imported $7.63, seed that germinated in sample 44.31 per 

 cent, actual cost of 100 lbs. of alfalfa seed that germinated $18.78. 



Grow^ing alfalfa without irrigation in Washington, E. E. Elliott (Wash- 

 ington Sta. Bui. 80, pp. 32). — This bulletin presents hi a popular form the 

 results of practical experiments carried on at the station farm, together with 

 information on the practices of progressive farmers in the State. 



Ten years' work has shown that on virgin soil a fair stand of alfalfa was 

 readily secured and that a failure to secure a perfect stand was due to insuffi- 

 cient seed and improper methods of seeding. The field used yielded heavier 

 crops from j-ear to year and any cultivation given the ground gave good returns. 

 A profitable second crop was secured in only one instance. The average annual 

 value of the crop is estimated at about $10 per acre, although it is stated that 

 in 1897, 1899, and 1900 it was considerably more. 



In one experiment seed secured from Colorado gave much better results 

 than seed from an luiknown source. Good results have also been secured frmn 

 Turkestan alfalfa. 



A brief statement of approved methods of cultivatiou concludes the bulleti:i. 



Farmers' institute bulletin, 1907, W. R. Perkins (Mis^sissiiiid .S'/r/. Bui. 

 103, in). 16, figs. 8). — This is n popular bulletin briefly outlining the methods of 

 corn improvement and corn .judging, and discussing the subjects of seed corn 

 growing and testing. 



The fibers of long-staple upland cottons, H. A. Allard ( U. S. Dcpt. Agr.. 

 Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. Ill, pt. 2, pp. 1\ pis. 2. figs. 3). — This bulletin discusses 

 briefly the apparent lack of uniformity of cotton fibers, and the true nature of 

 the longer fibers. 



With reference to the so-called long fibers the author states that " they are 

 not longer fibers as they have been generally considered, but are caused by more 

 or less curling and interweaving, which results in the pulling out of fibers from 

 adjacent seeds." 



Artificial fertilizers for cotton in the central provinces, D. Clouston {Agr. 

 J^ur. India, 2 {1901), A'o. 2, pp. 116-122). — Nitrate of soda was applied at the 

 rate of 130 lbs., sulphate of potash at the rate of 65 lbs., and superphosphate 

 at the rate of 260 lbs. per acre, supplying 20. o5, and 50 lbs. of nitrogen, potash, 

 and phosphoric acid, respectively. The season's results showed that nitrogen 

 was the most important plant food on this particular black-cotton soil. "VMien 

 superphosphate and potash were applied with it there was a considerable gain, 

 but the value of the increase was insufficient to cover the cost of these two sub- 

 stances. The plat receiving nitrogen alone produced 760 lbs. of seed cotton per 

 acre, while the complete application produced 870 lbs., and nitrogen with either 

 superphosphate or iiotash SOO lbs. per acre. 



The milling properties of oats, R. B. Greig and W. M. Findlay {Jour. B<1. 

 Agr. [London], I'l (I'.^Ol), ]S!o. J. pp. 251-268). — Observations on the milling 

 properties of oats showed that within the same variety clay soils produce a 



