1134 EXPERIMENT STATION TtKfTmD. 



kaiiiit, acid j)hosjjbate. cotton-seed uieaJ, and nitrate of soda, tjave an average 

 increase for 3 years of 257 lbs. of lint per acre. In this experiment tbe annual 

 profit per acre averaged $18.07 more tban tbe jtrofit on unfertilized land. 



Experiments with, cotton and oats in 1907, F. D. Stevens (AlaJxuna Vane- 

 hnikc >S7(/. Hill, i.7, ji/i. Id). — Tbe I'esults of numerous experiments are l)riefly 

 reported. 



Different methods of preparing black slough prairie soil for cotton resulted 

 in an increase in returns of $4.13 per acre in favor of plowing 0| in. deep as 

 compared with plowing 4i in. deep. Bedding in March gave better results tlian 

 bedding in December. California bur clover and crimson clover used as green 

 manures proved more i)rotitable tban commercial fertilizers. Truitt cotton gave 

 tlie best yield of lint and seed <tn black slough bottom land and I'eterkin, whicli 

 ranked second. i)roduced the highest i>ercentage of lint. Where cotton was alter- 

 nated with corn for 5 years the yields remained practically constant, but where 

 cowpeas were sown broadcast in standing corn and turned under the yields 

 were gradually increased. Oats after red clover yielded 51.8 bu. per acre, after 

 white clover 43.1 bu., and when fertilized with 200 lbs. of nitrate of soda 53.7 

 bu. per acre were secured. 



The use of 2(X) lbs. each of cotton-seed meal, nitrate of soda, acid pliosphate, 

 and kainit for 4 years on dark gray hillside land, as compared with tlie use of 

 no fertilizer for cotton, gave an average profit of $14.53 per acre per year. 

 Anotlier fertilizer test showed that for cotton on galled white or gray prairie 

 land an application of 200 lbs. of cotton-seed meal and 240 lbs. of acid phosphate 

 per acre may be recommended. On medium grade prairie soil from 200 to 350 

 lbs. of cotton-seed meal with from 250 to 375 lbs. of acid phosphate per acre was 

 most satisfactory. Kainit, except when used alone, was detrimental. On dark 

 red prairie bottom land 160 lbs. of nitrate of soda, 240 lbs. of acid phosphate, 

 and 200 lbs. of cotton-seed meal alone or in combination have been of excep- 

 tional value. 



Report of the chemical division, W. A. Withers (Xorth Carol iiia Hta. Ri)1. 

 1!>07, PI). 13, J'l). — The work of tlic division for the year is briefly outlined. 

 The experiments carried on with sweet potatoes confirm tlie results of Stone as 

 to the presence of cane sugar and tlie absence of reducing sugars, and further 

 show the absence of pentosans and jientoses. It is concluded from these experi- 

 ments that the sweet potato may be used directly for the production of alcohol 

 instead of taking tbe usual step of first separating out tlie sugar and starch. 



A note on nitrification work carried on states that while at the beginning of 

 the work it was found possible to jiroduce nitrates in soils from nearly every 

 soil tested, during the last year or so these same fields and gardens have failed 

 to produce nitrates thus indicating tbe instability as well as the lack of wide 

 distribution of the organism. AVhen some Aery rich soils were taken, however, 

 the formation of the nitrates was again secured. In some cases it was found 

 that an attempt to cultivate the organism resulted in a lack of production of 

 niti'ates. Work is now in progress to cultivate and isolate the different organ- 

 isms ill the soils referred to. with the view of ascertaining those which produce 

 nitrates. 



Range conditions, J. J. Thornber (Arizona Kta. Rpt. 1901, pp. 226-228). — 

 During the year ended June 30, 1!I07, the total precipitation on the small range 

 reserve was 13.02 in., of which 7.20 in. fell during the winter rainy period. 

 While the stands of Indian wheat and alfilaria were excellent, the growth was 

 only from 2 to 3 and from 5 to in., respectively. Of 15 varieties of seed sown 

 June 28, 1900, on land occasionally flooded only alfilaria made sufficient growth 

 to warrant meutioniug. 



