FIELD CEOPS. 135 



a special corn fertilizer is compared with an application richer in potash were in 

 grass during the last season. Considering the results obtained up to date, "it is 

 anticipated that the superiority of the mixture of fertilizers containing the larger 

 quantity of potash will become more evident from year to year." 



The experiment in manuring grass lands in rotation with wood ashes, ground bone 

 and muriate of pota,sh, and barnyard manure was continued upon the same basis as 

 in the previous year. The yields for the season ranged from al)outo4 to 3| tons of 

 I lay per acre. These yields, as well as the average yields for the entire series of 

 years, were decidedly profitable. 



An application of 150 lbs. of nitrate of soda per acre on Kentucky blue grass and 

 timothy sod increased the yield of rowen 571 and 259 lbs. per acre, respectively. The 

 cost of increase was i ct. per pound for the Kentucky blue grass and 1^ cts. per 

 ])ound for the timothy. These results showed a profit only in the case of the Kentucky 

 blue grass. 



Tlie experiment in hauling barnyar<l manure and spreading it in autumn or winter, 

 and in hauling it at that time into large piles to be scattered inunediately l)efore 

 ])lowing in tlie spring was continued, and the results indicated that on lands sloping 

 moderately, the spring application is preferable. 



Culture tests with alfalfa are reported. The yields were small and the authors 

 believe its success doubtful on the average soils of the State. 



Mand Wonder forage crop and Brazilian millet appeared identical in every way 

 with Pearl millet. 



Stock ranges of northwestern California, J. B. Davy ( U. *S'. Dept. Acjr., 

 Bureau of Phiid Induslry Bid. 12, pp. 81, pis. 8, figs. 4, maps 3).- — This bulletin con- 

 tains an account of northwestern California, its physiography and climate, and 

 especially its forage conditions. For the purpose of discussion the region is divided 

 into the interior plateau region, the coast bluff belt, and the redwood belt, and each 

 division is treated separately. 



Brief discussions are given on the temperature,- water supply, soils, and agricul- 

 tural products of the interior plateau region, including the mountain valleys and 

 upland ranges, the open summer or annual ranges, the prairies, the woodland or 

 winter range, the chajiarral, and sul)ali)ine meadows. The forage plants occurring 

 under these different conditions are enumerated and their value noted. The preva- 

 lent weeds occurring throughout the region are also discussed. About 50 years ago, 

 when the Sherwood Valley was first settled, Danthonia californrca, was the favorite, 

 most nutritious, and most abundant forage plant. At present it is scarce. Bromtis 

 racemosus commutatus, B. hordeaceus glahrescens, and Holcus lanaitis have become 

 naturalized and prevail in place of the former native plants. Other naturalized 

 species, but less common than those mentioned, are soft chess {Bromus hordeaceus), 

 silvery hair grass {Aira caryophyUea) , small barley grass {Hordeum maritimum gusso- 

 neanmn), and rat-tail fescue {Festuca myuros c'diata and F. myuros sduroldes). Bron- 

 cho grass {Bromus viaximus gussoni) , which is occasionally found, is considered of no 

 value and as being a troublesome weed. Redtop {Agrostls alba) and timothy {PIdeum 

 /iratense), introduced as forage plants, have almost entirely disappeared from the 

 wild meadows and pastures of the mountain valleys. The native grasses found in 

 the meadows are tufted hair grass {Deschampsia csespliosa), slender hair grass {D. 

 elongata), agrostis {A. exarata micropliylla) , meadow barley grass {Hordeum nodosum), 

 danthonia {Danthonia calif arnica), prairie June grass {Kosleria cristata), and Cali- 

 fornia fescue {Festuca calif omica). Blue canary grass {Phalaris amcthystina) is found 

 along the edge of the redwood forests, and a species of Pleuropogon, Panicidaria 

 fluitans, and slough grass {Bechnannia erucseformis) are found in the streams and 

 swamps. Of the native clovers, Trifolium dichotomum, T. microdon, T. barbigerum, 

 T. bifidum decipiens, T. microcephalum, T. wormskjoldvi, T. variegatum, and T. iriden- 

 tatum are quite common, while T. depauperatum and T. longipes occur only sx)aringly. 



