540 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Throughout the experiment it was shown that the moisture require- 

 ment of peas was not as great as for the other crops. When the crops 

 of peas and wheat had been removed the wheat- stubble field contained 

 only 9.41 per cent of moisture to 14.9 per cent in the pea-stubble field. 

 The moisture requirements for oats and alfalfa appeared to be greater 

 than for potatoes. 



Corn culture in the South, S. M. Tracy ( U. S. Dept. Agr.. Farmers 1 

 Bui. 81, p. 2i). — The author discusses the soil and its preparation, crop 

 rotations, fertilizers, varieties, the planting, cultivating, harvesting, 

 and storing of the crop, and saving the seed. The results of experi- 

 mental work with corn at various Southern experiment stations are 

 given in connection with the discussion of the different operations and 

 practices. In the discussion of varieties for the South it is advised 

 that when corn is grown for ordinary purposes it should be a dent 

 variety of local origin, ripening in from 150 to 170 days; the stalks 

 should have well-developed roots, and average nearly two ears each of 

 uniform diameter throughout, well filled at both ends and pointing 

 downward when ripej the cobs should be small in proportion to the 

 size of the ear, and the individual grains should be long and so broad 

 at the upper end as to leave only a slight depression between the rows. 



"White varieties will usually make a heavier yield thau colored varieties, though 

 many colored varieties are more vigorous and hardy thau some of the more prolific 

 white varieties. 



"It is as important to take seed from the best stalks as from the best ears, and 

 whatever variety may be preferred, every ear which is selected for seed should be 

 taken from a stalk which in size, habit of growth, aud number of ears approaches 

 closely to what is the desired form for thiit variety." 



The cost of the production of corn and oats in Illinois in 1896 

 (Illinois Sta. Bui. 50, pp. 53-76). — The results presented in this bulletin 

 were obtained from an investigation of the expense of raising the corn 

 and oat crops of 1896 in Illinois. The estimate of the cost of produc- 

 tion of these crops received from farmers throughout the State are 

 tabulated. 



Of 900 circulars distributed to obtain the necessary data 316 were 

 returned with answers. Of these 274 and 170 were used in calculating 

 the cost of producing the crops of corn and oats, respectively. The 

 average yield of corn per acre on the farms taken into consideration 

 was 54 bu. and of oats 34 bu. The yield of corn was somewhat above 

 the average, while that of oats was considerably below the average 

 yield. The cost of production as determined here u is the average sum 

 of the expenditures on all the processes involved in production, from 

 the preparation of the soil to the delivery at the elevator, including 

 the wages of the fanner himself, whether owner or renter. A proper 

 allowance is made for time lost and for maintenance of team during 

 idleness, interest on investment, including rent and allowance for depre- 

 ciation of tools and machinery." On this basis the calculated cost of 

 production of corn was 19.5 cts. per bushel and $10.59 per acre, and 

 the cost of production of oats 21 cts. per bushel and $7.76 per acre. 



