126 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The culture of wheat on a loam soil, L. Grandeau {Jour. Agr. Prat., 6G (IS96), 

 II, No. 35, pp. ,290-300). — An accouut of experiments at Jomnielieres ^vitli aiiplica- 

 tions on wheat of superphosphates, and increasing amounts of chlorid of potash 

 and nitrate of soda; also phosphatic slag. Ko delinitc results were obtained. 



The spontaneous combustion of hay and its prevention, I^. Hapke (Abhandl. 

 Naiurio. Ver. Bremen, 13 {1895), No. 2, pp. 337-341; als. in Bot. Cenfbl Beiheffe, 6 

 {1896), No. 2-3, p. 214). — Spontaneous combustion is more common in damp liay than 

 in dry. If the inner temperature rises above 122° F., or smoke appears, application 

 of water is the only remedy. The bacteria which cause spontaneous combustion 

 are aerobic, and as far as possible access of air to the attected mow or stack should 

 be prevented. 



A study of rotations, A. Preiss {Deni. Jaudw. Bresse, 23 {1806), Nos. 69, pp. 612, 

 61^; 71, p. 030, dfjin. 1; 72, p. 640). — The rotations recommended are for the climates 

 of Germany and for the difl'erent sorts of soils and cultures practiced there. 



Report on field experiments for the year 1895 {Agl. Dept. Vniversitij College, 

 Nortit Waha, pp. 40). — A report on coijperative experiments carried on at nearly 40 

 centers situated in 5 difiPcrent counties, embracing about every variety of soil. 

 These exjieriments "are not usually arranged with the object of discovering some- 

 thing absolutely new, but meant rather to act as object lessons." The experiments 

 reported enjl)ra(c fertilizer tests on turnips, meadows, and pastures, and on seeding 

 to oats and to grass. 



Cultural experiments instituted by the Schleswig-Holstein Agricultural 

 Society in 1893-'95, Tancrk {Landw. Wochenhl. Schles.-Eolst., 46{1896), Nos. 18, pp. 

 271-270; ID, pp. 292-295). — In trials with catch crops and forage crops, white mus- 

 tard, oil rape, crimson clover, sand vetch, lupines, and serradelhi were grown. As 

 a plant for gathering nitrogen and enriching the soil serradella is of particular 

 aihantage when preceding grain crops or potatoes. 



The author discusses the manurial requiremeuts of the potato crop for that 

 region, and mentions the constant degeneracy of varieties of potatoes and the con- 

 tinual need of replacing the failing varieties with established and fruitful ones of 

 recent breeding. In a variet,v test the 6 varieties producing largest yields were 

 Early May Queen, Magnum Bonum, Costernitzer, Saxonia, Buntkopfige, and Prof. 

 Maercker. 



Burdwan experimental farm ( Indian Agr., 21 {1896), No. 4, j>p. 108-110). — The farm 

 consists of 21 ;ures of sandy loam. In a series of fertilizer trials in which cow 

 manure, castor cake, bone meal, and nitrate of potash were used the highest yields 

 per acre were as follows : Winter rice, 4,673 lbs., and rice straw, 6,377 lbs., from an 

 application of bone meal and nitrate of ])ota8h; and jute, 1,721 lbs., from an applica- 

 tion of cow manure. The largest return of sugar on 6 twelfth-acre plats of sugar 

 cane followed an a])plication uf bone meal. The largest yield of potatoes, 19,030 

 lbs. per acre, grew where cow manure had been a])plied. The potatoes were remark- 

 ably good in quality. 



Seebpore experimental farm {Indian Agr., 21 {1890), No. 4, pp. 110-112). — The 

 farm consists of 26 acres of heavy alluvial loam. 



In a potato experiment on 8 tenth-acre plats, 3 were green manured with dhainche 

 {Sesbania uctdeata), 3 with castor cake, and the remainder with the two preceding 

 combined; these were planted to potatoes in the last part of November. The crop 

 was gathered in March. The doubly manured ]ilats gave the largest yields, followed 

 by those to which castor cake had been applied. In an experiment with castor cake 

 rs. crude ])otassic nitrate on cabbages the largest returns were from api)lications of 

 the former. 



An experiment in rattoouing the khari sugar cane was successful, the yield of cane 

 the fourth year being 4,742 lbs. per acre. By rattoouing the canes became harder 

 each year. 



Oats, sorghum, teosinte, and guinea grass gave profitable returns as fodder crops. 



