FIELD CROPS. 



775 



Influence of chemical fertilizers on the product of natural and 

 artificial meadows, !•:. Zachakewicz {Pro<j. A<jr. et Vit., ;J<; {1S96), 

 JSo. 5 J, pp. (i'J3-7(ii). — A geiieral discussion is given of the principles of 

 fertilizer application with special reference to conditions existing in 

 mowing lands. I^otes are given upon the work of Lawes and Gilbert 

 and of ( larola along this line ; and experiments made under the author's 

 supervision upon 2 private estates during the years 18!)4, 1895, and 

 181)0 are reported. On one estate stable manure, a complete chemical 

 fertilizer (including plaster), superphosphate, and liquid manure were 

 applied for 3 years upon 4 tenth-hectare jilats of land which had been 

 in natural meadow for 9 years. Tables are given showing the weight 

 of hay obtained at each of 3 cuttings and the financial value and i)roflt 

 for the crop of each year. The results are calculated for yields per hec- 

 tare, and the financial statements are based upon hay at $1.35 i)er 100 

 kg. The average results for the 3 years are shown in the following 

 table: 



Comjtaratire effect of fertilizers upon liay crop. 



Cost of 

 fertilizer. 



Stable maimre 



Complete olieniical fertilizer. 



Super))hospliate 



Liquid ruanure 



>i one 



$38. 60 



21.46 



7.23 



19.30 



Weight Uetvalue ^^17J;4- 

 of crop. of crop. ! ^^,^0^ plat. 



Eg. 

 10, 421 

 10, 99G 

 9,118 

 7,217 

 6,171 



$102. 18 

 127.10 

 115.81 

 78.19 

 83.40 



43.70 



32.41 



—5.21 



A 2-year test of the effect of a complete fertilizer including plaster 

 as compared with no fertilizer was made upon land which had been in 

 meadow for 30 years. The average yields per hectare are for the unma- 

 nured plat 9,662 kg., for the manured plat 12,81(J kg., a difference in 

 favor of the fertilizer of 3,15-1 kg., and a net gain, at the same price 

 for hay as in the x)recediiig experiment, of $19.01 per hectare. 



A similar test upon alfalfa gave a profit of $21.81 per hectare from 

 the use of a mixed mineral fertilizer containing no nitrogen. 



Oats, test of varieties {rennsylvania l^ta. Bpt. lS!)r>^pp. 240,341).— 

 Kineteen varieties of oats were grown in duplicate twentieth-acre plats. 

 The oats were sown with a drill April 17 and 19 at the rate of 2 bu. 

 per acre. The yields of grain and straw for 1895 of 19 varieties and 

 the average for years of 15 varieties are tabulated. In 1895 the 

 largest yields were given by -laune des Flanders, Improved American, 

 German, Early Eussian, Scottish Chief, and Henderson Clydesdale: the 

 largest average yields for the years were given by Japan, Imi)roved 

 American, Baltic White, German, and Scottish Chief. 



A chemical study of the Irish potato, T. L. AVatson ( Virginia 

 Sta. Btih. -j-j, i)p. 99- J Jo; r,(;, pp. IIT-J jJ).—T\ni analyses were of the 

 crops of .1890 and 1892, the aim being to compare northern and southern- 

 grown varieties. The data discussed and shown in tables relate to 

 the water, dry matter, specific gravity, and starch content of 12 varie- 

 ties grown in Virginia, 7 in Connecticut, and 3 in Michigan, analyzed 



