FIELD CROPS. 627 



special fertilizer but furnishing less nitrogen and phosphoric acid (E. 

 S. E., 9, p. 340), were seeded to timothy, redtop, and clover. The plats 

 which had received the special corn fertilizer gave an average yield of 

 7G0 lbs. of hay and 113i lbs. of rowen. The plats which had received 

 the fertilizer richer in potash yielded on an average 713i lbs. of hay 

 and 147 lbs. of rowen. It is believed that, owing to inequalities of 

 moisture conditions, the influence of the potash was not clearly shown. 



The test with legumes was continued from former years (E. S. B., 9, 

 p. 340). A number of plats had received nitrogenous fertilizers while 

 some received no nitrogen. During some seasons legumes were 

 grown on the plats to test their ability as nitrogen gatherers. The 

 results from a crop of oats grown on the plats last season show " not 

 the least evidence of any ability on the part of the soy bean when 

 grown before a grain crop (and harvested) to make nitrogen manuring 

 of the grain crop unnecessary." Of the nitrogen fertilizers, nitrate of 

 soda gave the largest crop, followed by barnyard manure, dried blood, 

 and sulphate of ammonia, in the order given. Double sulphate of pot- 

 ash and magnesia was more effective than muriate of potash, especially 

 when used in connection with sulphate of ammonia. A test of muriate 

 with sulphate of potash in connection with sulphate of ammonia as a 

 corn fertilizer gave too small a difference in yield to ascertain the merits 

 of the two forms of potash. 



Experiments with the rotation of manures on grass lands have been 

 continued (E. S. E., 8, p. 402), and the yields for the last season are 

 reported. " This system of using these different manures for grass 

 lauds in rotation has much to recommend it." 



Nitragin was tried on crimson clover, alfalfa, and common red clover, 

 but without appreciable effect. " The failure of the material to benefit 

 the crop appears to be due to the fact that our soils contain the nodular 

 bacteria of the common leguminous crops in sufficient numbers." 



Sulphate of iron used at the rate of 80 lbs. per acre had a very slight 

 effect, sometimes proving deleterious rather than beneficial. 



Variety tests. — The results of variety tests with corn, potatoes, 

 grasses, millets, soy beans, and clovers are reported. The 9 varieties 

 of flint and 11 of dent corn tested all proved to be too late for culture 

 except for silage. Of 81 varieties of potatoes, Eose No. 9, Restaurant, 

 Woodbury White, Bliss Triumph, Prolific Eose, Empire State, Early 

 Maine, Dakota Eed, Sir William, Early Eose, and Beauty of Hebron 

 gave the best yields, all yielding at the rate of more than 220 bu. of 

 merchantable tubers per acre. 



Sixty species and varieties of grasses were tested, most of them 

 occupying plats containing 1 sq. rod. English rye grass, Italian rye 

 grass, crested dog's tail, and meadow fescue winterkilled. Tall oat 

 grass, tall fescue, red fescue, fowl meadow, Canada blue grass, water 

 spear grass, and wood meadow grass are mentioned as promising 

 grasses. 



