736 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the yield was materially reduced. In the seeding test the wheat was 

 sown at rates varying from 2 to 5 pk. per acre. The largest yield was 

 obtained from sowing 2 pk. per acre, the next largest from sowing 4£ 

 and 5 pk., and the smallest from sowing 2i pk. Drilling gave better 

 results than broadcasting. 



Plowing in. deep for oats gave better results than plowing either 3 

 or 9 in. deep. Harrowing the soil 4 times before seeding instead of 

 only once increased the yield per acre by <> bu. On 9 plats oats were 

 sown broadcast on the stubble and covered by means of a disk barrow, 

 and then 3 of the plats were dragged twice and 3 dragged once and 

 rolled. The results gave a difference of about 3 bu. per acre in favor 

 of harrowing or harrowing and rolling. Of 13 varieties White Russian 

 produced the best average yield for 1895 and 189(>. 



Twelve varieties of corn were tested to ascertain which kind reached 

 the most advanced stage before frost. White dent gave the best 

 results, reaching tbe proper stage for cutting before frost and yielding 

 about 10 tons of silage per acre. 



The grasses and forage plants grown at the station on experimental 

 plats, permanent meadows, and in pastures are enumerated and a num- 

 ber of them briefly discussed. 



Fiber flax investigations, F. A. Huntley (Washington Sta.Bul.33, 

 pp. 24, Jigs. l,pl. 1). — This bulletin reports culture and variety tests and 

 retting experiments with flax, and describes in a popular way the vari- 

 ous operations which enter into its culture and the preparation of the 

 fiber. The results of the culture and variety tests are given in the fol- 

 lowing table: 



Yield of flax from different varieties of seed. 



Plat 1 . . 

 Plat 2 . . 

 Plat 3 . . 

 Plat 4 . . 

 Plat 5 . . 

 Plat 6 . . 

 Plat 7 . . 

 Plat 8 . . 

 Plat 9. . 

 Plat 10 . 



Plat 11 . 

 Plat 12 . 

 Plat 13 



Variety of 

 seed. 



Riga 



do ... 



....do ... 

 ....do ... 

 Belgian . . 



Riga 



Belgian . . 



Riga 



Belgian j do 



Riga do 



When 

 sown. 



Mar. 28 

 ...do ... 

 Apr. 17 

 ...do .. 

 ...do.. 

 May 15 



...do.. 



...do .. 



.do 

 .do 

 .do 



.do 

 .do 

 .do 



Amount 

 sown per 



Pounds. 

 90 

 120 

 150 

 120 

 120 

 210 

 180 

 150 

 120 

 210 



180 

 150 

 120 



Character of soil. 



Yield of 



un- 



threshed 



straw per 



acre. 



Sandy loam 



....do 



....do 



....do 



do 



do 



do 



do 



do 



Clay and sandy 

 loam. 



do 



do 



do 



Yield of 



threshed 



straw per 



acre. 



Pounds. 

 3,545 

 3,082 

 4,267 

 3,760 

 3,704 



4,344 

 3,908 

 4,016 



4,080 



Pounds. 

 2,280 

 2,425 

 2,986 

 2,608 

 2,521 



3,325 

 2,720 

 2, 921 



3,663 



2, 800 



Yield of 



seed per 



acre. 



Pounds. 

 640 

 695 

 661 

 638 

 56b 



430 

 657 

 664 

 425- 



656 

 704 

 569 



Retting was performed by submerging the straw placed in crates in 

 a slow-flowing, clear stream, by anchoring the straw tied into bundles 

 in a pool filled with water from the same stream and by placing it in 

 special retting tanks. The water in the stream and pool maintained a 

 temperature of about 51° F. and the retting required an average duration 



