502 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the hour of day, with the season, with the weather, and with the 

 topography; the problems of air drainage; the occurrence of frosts 

 and protection from them; the distribution of moisture; the problems 

 of condensation and evaporation of water in the air; the solar and 

 terrestrial radiations and the disposition of them; the action of the 

 meteorological elements on organic life and the reactions of life on 

 them; the actions and reactions of weather, climate, and soil; the pre- 

 cipitation of the moisture of the air and the disposition of it.'' Some 

 of these problems have already been attacked by the stations, but, as 

 stated above, others, especially those bearing upon the relations between 

 the meteorological elements and the development of the plant, still 

 demand investigation. 



A system of observations which seems to promise definite results in 

 determining the bearing of some of the more important meteorological 

 factors on plant growth has been outlined by this Office as follows: 



Plan for field studies on the relations of climate and crops. 



[Crop — Corn.] 

 f 12 tenth-acre plats. 

 I Elevation I absolute and comparative). 

 Field.. < Slope. 



I Exposure. 



L Proximity to woodland and water. 

 (Field must be kept clear of all vegetation except the coin, the year round.) 



C Temperature 3 in.. 2 ft., 4 ft.. 6 fc. above surface. 



I Observations in field [ Humidity. 



I Precipitation. 

 ( Sunshine.. \ 



Observations near Held.. \ Wind J Self registering instruments. 



I Rainfall... J 



Physical and chemical properties (observed yearly about planting time). 

 Temperature— tridaily at surface and 3 depths. 

 Soil Moisture— weekly or daily. 



Manuring— same for 9 plats; 3 plats unmanured (amount of fertilizer suffi- 

 cient to maintain fertility I. 

 Cultivation — same method each year. 



V ariety — standard ( seed should be average of whole crops each year). 



History of .seed. 



Germination test . 



Time of planting (3 plantings at weekly intervals). 



Depth of planting- (.same each season |. 



Distance of planting. 



.sprouting (first and at regular intervals daily fco determine average). 

 Plant ' Number of missing hills. 



j Measurement of plant at fixed intervals (appearance of nodes). 

 I Date of tasseling ) 



1 >ate of appearance of ear.. I 



Date of milk stage j First 10 >"' r cen1 and 50 P er Cent " 



Date of glazing I 



Kate of harvest. 



Product — yield (total and parts) and quality (commercial and chemical) 

 and relation of parts. 



Am 



