142 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The same amount of potash in the form of crude salts applied in the 

 spring is of no benefit, and may even diminish the yield of starch. This 

 is caused, on the one hand, by the high chlorin content of the crude 

 salts, and, on the other, by the presence of magnesium compounds, 

 especially magnesium chlorid. An insufficient amount of chlorin in 

 the soil may influence the growth of the potato plant in such manner 

 that the application of chlorids may be of direct benefit. Large yields 

 of starch have been obtained even with a high chlorin content in the 

 entire potato plant. It seems possible, therefore, that new varieties of 

 potatoes may be bred, which are able to use larger amounts of chlo- 

 rin, or may even be in need of larger amounts to produce a maximum 

 yield. Strictly speaking, the results apply only to the variety ("Prof. 

 Maercker") which was grown in this experiment. 



Experiments with wheat, C. 0. Georgeson, F. C. Burtis, and 

 D. H. Otis (Kansas Sta. Bui. 71, pp. 163-174). — The series of experi- 

 ments reported consisted of growing wheat continuously without 

 manure, growing it in rotation, comparing subsoiled with surface- 

 plowed land, different times of seeding, and testing a number of varie- 

 ties. A severe frost during the latter part of November interfered 

 materially with the results. Work along this line has been reported in 

 Bulletin 59 of the station (E. S. B., 8, p. 594). 



An acre plat, which was in wheat continuously for seventeen years 

 without manure, gave an average yield of 19.57 bu. per acre for the 

 period. During this period three crops were complete failures and two 

 others but little short of failures owing to winterkilling. 



An experiment with subsoiled and surface-plowed plats resulted in 

 lighter yields on the subsoiled plats. Another experiment in this line, 

 and in continuation of one formerly reported (E. S. B., 8, p. 594), 

 resulted generally in smaller yields on plats subsoiled in 1894 than on 

 plats which had been only surface plowed. The experience of the col- 

 lege farm with subsoiling for wheat and corn indicated that there is a 

 positive loss of labor and yield by subsoiling. 



The comparison of different dates of seeding showed that in general 

 the best results were obtained from seedings made from September 7 to 

 21. On the average the seeding of September 16 made the best showing. 



The rotation experiments have not been in progress long enough to 

 warrant definite conclusions. They have shown, however, that a yearly 

 application of 20 tons of barnyard manure per acre causes an excessive 

 growth of straw and fails to develop the kernel. This year wheat was 

 sown after some catch crops of soy beans and cowpeas. The best yields 

 were obtained from the wheat seeded on soy-bean stubble. 



Out of 57 varieties grown at the station for several years only the 

 Turkey, Tasmanian Bed, and Crimean have withstood the severe frosts 

 in November so as to yield at the rate of 10 bu. or more per acre. 



The sugar beet in Illinois, P. G. Holden and 0. G. Hopkins 

 (Illinois Sta. Bui. 49, pp. 52, figs. 13). — This bulletin reports the results 



