27 



the same iiietlioil of tillaj^e in 1H90 of 12.G hnsheln por acr?, or :{0.6 por cent aa au 

 averaf^tj of diiplicato plats. Averaj^o of both seasous for all plats gave an iucieaso 

 of 13.5 bushels per acre, or 25.2 per cent. A plat iu the set haviiig no tillage, the 

 weeds being removed with a sharp hoe without stirring the soil, yielded in both sea- 

 sons for the same plat, more than the deep-tilled jdats, bnt less than the shallow- 

 tilled. Weekly determinations of soil moisture for 11 weeks, ending August in 

 181)0, showed that the shallow-tilled [)lals had an average of ll.d per cent more mois- 

 ture than the deep-tilled plats, and 10 per cent mure than the plat receivini-- no 

 tillage. 



In a test of dilferent depths of cultivation wiih the hoe, running from 1 to 5 inches 

 deep, there was less di Here nee in the yield than in any test of depth of cultivation 

 where field implements were used. It is probable that the better conservation of 

 moislure by deep hoeing counteracts and balances to some extent the eflect of root 

 mutilation, as the New York State Station has shown that the moisture increased reg- 

 ularly with the depth of stirring. In their test the soil was stirred with a hoe or 

 spade, and no crop was grown on the land tested. Then a perfect mulch is formed, 

 but, as explained in the body of this report, uo such covering is made by the ordinary 

 held cultivator when run deep. 



A light mulch of line earth in one case, of sand iu another, and of chaft' in a third, 

 spread to a depth of one half inch, gave as large a yield for l-;89 as two adjoining 

 l>lats having thorough tillage. The mulched i)lats were never tilled. 



In a test of deep and shallow tillage where the root mutilation was equal, there 

 was a gain of 5 bushels per acre, or 10.4 per cent in favor of shallow tillage, duo, 

 l)re8unK\bly, to the increased amount of moisture conserved. Au effort to determine 

 the stage of development of the plant at which the ill effects of deep tillage are 

 least felt, showed a gain of 5.3 bushels per acre, or 12.4 percent from tilling shallow, 

 when the plants are small, aud deep afterwards, as compared with deep tillage early 

 and shallow afterwards. The trial was not made in duplicate, and covers but oue 

 season. The results need confirmation. The result of the experiment with fre- 

 (luency of tillage for two years, shows no relation between the amount of cultivation 

 and the amount of corn harvested, so long as the weeds are kept down. This is in 

 accord with experiments at the New York, Ohio, and Illinois Stations. A test of 

 hill vs. level cultivation, where all other things were eciual, showed an increase of 

 2.() bushels per acre or 3.7 per cent in favor of hilling. The results are not decisive 

 enough to be conclusive, but point to a probable advantage from hilling. A com- 

 parison of tilling one way continuously aud cross-plowing once for both seasons 

 resulted in a gain of 2.'J bushels or 5.3 per ceut iu favor of cross-cultivation. 



Tile drainage for roots and corn. 



A trial of the value of tile drainage on rolling clay upland shows a gain of 1.18 tons 

 of maugel-wurzels per acre or 13.7 per cent iu 18SD in favor of drainage ; while, for 

 ItS'JO with corn, the results are reversed, giving the undrained plats an advantage of 

 3.7 bushels per acre or 7 per cent. So far, the results are inconclusive. In 18'J0, the 

 moisture in the first 7 inches of the soil, iu both drained and undrained plats, was 

 determined weekly for 11 weeks, ending August 6, showing uo dillerouce iu favor of 

 either system. 



Nebraska Station, Fourth Annual Report, 1890 (pp. 371). 



This incltules a brief rdsiiiue of the work of each departineiit of the 

 station ; a subject list of Bulletins Nos. 1-15, and Press Bulletins Xos. 

 X-5} the Treasurer's report for the fiscal year eudiug June 30, 1890 j 

 3318— Xo. 1 3 



