64:0 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



plowed under at once than where it was left on the field for a mouth or more 

 before plowing. Early fall plowing increased the yield of spring-sown cereals. 



Wagga experim^ental farm [report], G. M. McKf:own (Agr. Gas. X. S. Wales, 

 18 (1907). Xo. 2, pp. 159-162. fid- />.— Comparative fertilizer tests with alfalfa 

 resulted in the obtaining of the best yield from the use of 2 cwt. of superphos- 

 phate per acre on limited land. The addition of h cwt. of sulphate of potash to 

 the superphosphate did not benefit the yield. 



Of the number of difi'erent varieties of wheat, Farmers Friend ranked first 

 with an average yield per acre of 21 bu, and 22 lbs. for the varieties grown for 7 

 consecutive years. Sowing at the rate of 60 lbs. per acre gave better average 

 yields than the use of either 20 or 40 lbs. of seed. Superphosphate proved a 

 more efficient fertilizer than bone phosphate. Drilled seed for 4 years gave an 

 average yield of 20 bu. and 20 lbs. per acre, as compared with IT bu. and 57 lbs. 

 for seed sown broadcast. 



The general average yield per acre of a number of varieties of barley was 25 

 bu. and 20 lbs., and the average of the 3 best varieties 27 bu. and 12 lbs. The 

 best yields in a fertilizer exi)erimeut were secured by applying h cwt. of super- 

 phosphate and i cwt. of sulphate of potash per acre. 



The time of farm operations at Aas Agricultural College, G. Holtsmabk 

 (Ber. Norges Landbr, Hoiskolcs Virks.. 190-)-(J. pp. 113-115). — Farm records 

 kept at the college since 1859 show that the time of plowing and harrowing at 

 Aas in southern Norway generally falls between April 21 and May 3, the a\erage 

 date being April 27: the first sowing of barley, peas, and vetches between May 3 

 and 12, with the avei-age date May 7 : the first sowing of turnips between May 

 30 and June 7, the average being June 3: the beginning of haying between June 

 30 and July 9, the average being July 4 : the harvest of the last hay between 

 July 24 and August 11, with the average August 2 ; the end of the turnip harvest 

 between October 26 and 29 ; and the end of the fall plowing between November 

 5 and 21, the average date being November 13. 



A contribution to the knowledge of the germination of grains, J. Effront 

 (Bill. Assoc. Chilli. I^iicr. ct Distill.. 1905. p. 508; Ann. Geinhlou.r. 1906. p. 2.59; 

 ahs. in Zcnthl. Agr. Chcm., 36 {1901). Xo. 5, pp. 320-32'f). — Experiments were 

 conducted to determine the relation between the saccharifying and the starch- 

 splitting enzyms. 



It was found that the period of activity of the saccharifying ferment may be 

 divided into 4 periods, in the beginning a rapidly increasing activity followed by 

 a reduced working power, and again a renewed activity, which finally gives 

 place to a gradual but continuous decline. The starch-splitting ferment, on the 

 other hand, showed a progressive increase in activity. The maximiuu of 

 activity of these 2 enzyms was not reached at the same time and the length of 

 the plumule had apparently no direct relation to their maximum working 

 power. 



The action of direct light upon the grains while germinating had an injurious 

 eflfect upon the saccharifying ferment, while the starch-splitting enzym was not 

 so influenced. The influence of chemical reagents was quite varied, retarding or 

 preventing in some cases germination itself and in others the development of the 

 enzyms in question. Hyperchlorids in neutral solution favored germination and 

 the development of diastase. The quantity of diastase formed during germina- 

 tion is directly dependent upon the quality of the barley and also stands in 

 direct relation to the duration of germination and the length of the plumule. 

 The diastase formed during the process of germination remains entirely with the 

 proteids. 



