FIELD CROPS. 83 



large applications of nitrate of soda yielded much the greater profit. In 1901 the 

 \alue of the hay from the plat receiving the heavy dressing exceeded the cost of the 

 fertilizers by $40.70 per acre, and for the 3 years of the exi)eriments by $90.72. In 

 all instances the use of a complete fertilizer gave the best results. The formula used 

 in 1901 ill top-dressing the grass consisted of 807.5 lbs. of acid phosi)hate containing 

 about 16 per cent of total phosphoric acid, 200.5 lbs. of muriate of potash, and 400.6 

 lbs. of nitrate of soda per acre. This application furnished the large dressing of 

 nitrate of soda. The authors believe the results of 1901 to indicate that an api)lica- 

 tion of 400 to 500 lbs. of acid phosphate, 250 to 300 H)s. of muriate of ])otash, and 350 

 to 400 lbs. of nitrate of soda per acre would perhaps have been more economical. 



The original grass mixtures sown on these plats in 1898 consisted of 7h lbs. each of 

 common red clover and redtop and 15 lbs. of timothy. In 1900 the plat without 

 nitrogen contained 222 grass stalks per square foot; the plat with the small dressing, 

 or one-third ration of nitrogen, 271, and the plat with the full dressing of nitrogen, 

 236. During the last season of the experiments the plat receiving the full dressing 

 of nitrate of soda had the heaviest stand of timothy, the relative percentages of tim- 

 othy and redtop being 67 and 33 per cent, respectively. The increase in nitrate of 

 soda produced a heavier stand of timothy and with it a larger yield of hay. This 

 plat yielded at the rate of 9,390 lbs. , or 4. 7 tons, of hay per acre. "The most plausible 

 explanatiiiii which has suggested itself for this striking result is the influence upon 

 the growth of the crop brought about l)y the soda of the nitrate of soda, by virtue of 

 its tendency to render the soil alkaline." 



The shrinkage in the hay from the full nitrogen plat, after storing until the follow- 

 ing February, was 19.6 per cent as compared with 14.9 per cent for the hay from the 

 no nitrogen plat and 15.7 per cent for the plat receiving one-third of the full appli- 

 cation of nitrate. 



It was determined by analyses that 1,000 lbs. of field-cured hay, free from clover, 

 removed from 5.6 to 5.8 lbs. of nitrogen, 14.7 to 16.2 lbs. of potash, and 3.3 to 3.5 lbs. 

 of phosphoric acid from the soil. The different analyses of hay made in connection 

 with this work are given in tabular form. 



Brome grass and timothy compared, E. F. Ladd {Xortli Dakota Sta. Rpt. 1901, 

 pp. 13-18). — The analyses of brome grass and timothy, the samples being taken from 

 a pasture, are compared, and analyses of brome grass hay, including an ash analysis, 

 are reported. The yields of forage and dry matter per acre for the two grasses are 

 given. These experiments were in continuation of work undertaken in 1900, and 

 the results of this season bear out the conclusions drawn the year before and pre- 

 viously noted (E. S. R., 13, p. 443). 



Fowl meadoAV grass, L. R. Jones and A. W. Edson ( Vermovt Sta. Rpt. 1901, ]>p. 

 237-247, Jig. 1). — This grass is described and discussed, and results of ex})erimentsto 

 cultivate it conducted from 1894 to 1901 are reported. It was found that from 6 to 

 7 bu. of seed, weighing 19 lbs. per measured bushel, may be ol)tained per acre. The 

 yields of hay on the station plats were larger than the yields on natural overflowed 

 intervale meadows, which produced from \\ to 2^ tons per acre. The fowl meadow 

 grass plats yielded more from year to year, while adjacent timothy plats, owing to 

 the growth of sedges, showed a gradual decrease in yield. 



"For sowing in wet soils a mixture is recommended which may in(rlude variable 

 proportions of redtoji, fowl meadow, timothy, and alsike clover. If the soil is favor- 

 able to it the fowl meadow will form an increasing proportion of the crop until the 

 third or fourth year when it will have entirely replaced the other grasses and there- 

 after persists." Sowing in midsummer without a nurse croji is recommended. 



Comparative analyses made at the station of the hay of fowl meadow grass and 

 timothy are tabulated. Fowl meadow grass hay is considered of excellent composi- 

 tion and reported as being relished as well by stock as the best upland hay. 



The hop and its English varieties, J. Pehcival {Jour. Roy. A(jr. Soc. England, 



