942 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



of fertilizers upon the weight per bushel of wheat and the character of the 

 kernels is reported. It was observed that nitrogen used alone retarded matu- 

 rity, while minerals used alone hastened it. Where a large increase in yield 

 was secured through the use of fertilizers the kernels were generally larger, 

 better filled, and better colored than those grown under less favorable fer- 

 tilizer conditions. In 8 trials the phosphate fertilizer increased the weight of 

 the grain per bushel and in 2 the weight was the same as when no fertilizer 

 was used. In 5 trials potash increased the weight per bushel, and in no case 

 was it decreased by the use of this element. Nitrogen increased the weight 

 in some cases and decreased it in others. The weight per bushel, character 

 of the kernel, chemical composition of the grain, and results of bread making 

 and technical tests of the flour are given in tables and discussed. 



Forty-one samples of flour from wheat grown upon fertilized and unfertilized 

 plats at 9 different places were examined. From 3 of the 9 places the wheat 

 grown on plats fertilized with phosphates produced flour that made the best 

 bread, from 2 places the wheat fertilized with nitrogen, from 2 the wheat fer- 

 tilized with potash, and from 2 the wheat receiving a complete fertilizer. In 

 30 tests the fertilizers which gave the largest yields produced wheats of the 

 highest bread-making value; while in 10 the best quality of flour was secured 

 from the fertilized wheats not showing the largest yield per acre. While yield 

 and bread-making quality were both improved by the use of fertilizers, they 

 were not improved to the same extent by the same fertilizer. No constant re- 

 lationship between the percentage of protein in the grain and flour and the 

 bread-making value was apparent, and while it is considered possible to in- 

 crease the amount of proteids in flour by the use of nitrogenous fertilizers it is 

 stated that the bread-making value is not proportionately increased. The 

 increase in nitrogen content in some instances imparts a negative value as a 

 part of the nitrogen is in nonproteid forms. The results as a whole are taken 

 as showing that not only the yield of wheat but also the bread-making value 

 can be enhanced by increasing the soil fertility and that a very close relation- 

 ship exists between the amount of available plant food in the soil and the 

 quality and bread-making value of the wheat produced on it. 



The adulteration and misbranding of alfalfa, red clover, and grass seeds, 

 B. T. Galloway (C7. »S. Dcpt. Ayr., Office Sec. Circ. 26, pi>. 6). — Samples of seed 

 of red clover, alfalfa, meadow fescue, Bromus inermis, and Kentucky blue- 

 grass were examined and the results are here briefly reported. 



Of 1,217 samples of red clover seed 405 contained seed of dodder, 424 traces 

 of yellow trefoil seed, and 135 bore evidence of having originated in Chile. Of 

 399 samples of alfalfa seed 191 contained seed of dodder, 135 a trace of yellow 

 trefoil seed, 120 a trace of sweet clover seed, and 16 a trace of bur clover seed. 

 Of meadow fescue only 64 samples were obtained, of which 20 contained chess 

 in amounts varying from a trace to more than 19 per cent, 4 contained seed of 

 rye grass, and 6 were misbranded, 4 being Canada bluegrass, 1 orchard grass, 

 and 1 a mixture of orchard grass and fescue. Of 55 samples of Bromus inermis 

 seed 15 contained seed of cheat, 28 from 2 to 3 per cent of seed of the wheat 

 grasses, several seed of meadow fescue, and 1 more than 24 per cent of meadow 

 fescue and rye grass seed together. Of 429 samples of Kentucky bluegrass 

 seed secured, only 8 were free of any trace of Canada bluegrass. 



In most of the samples the trace of Canada bluegrass found was immature 

 seed, showing that it was harvested with the Kentucky bluegrass seed. In 110 

 samples, however, Canada bluegrass seed was found in quantities exceeding 

 5 per cent, 32 of these being Canada bluegrass seed misbranded as Kentucky 

 bluegrass seed. 



