FIELD CROPS. 957 



Rape grown indoors under the same conditions as oats and corn showed an increase 

 of 11.40 and 13.445 per t'ent of protein on the second and third plats, respectively, as 

 compared with the first plat which received no fertilizer. The results indicate that 

 the amount of nitric nitrogen given the second plat was apparently all that the plant 

 could utilize in the formation of protein. 



Experiments with grain and forage plants, 1902, R. A. Moore ( Wisconsin 

 Sta. Ept. 1902, pp. 217-240, figs. .}). — An account is given of the weather conditions 

 of the season and of the results obtained in the culture nf a number of varieties of 

 grains. Severe storms in June and July injured the small grains grown to such an 

 extent that data as to yields per acre, etc., have been omitted from the report. Of 11 

 varieties of barley grown, ]Manshury and Oderbrucker, l)oth 6-rowed varieties, led in 

 yield and general excellence. Seventeen varieties of oats were grown, and of these 

 Swedish oats have given the best results for a perioil of 4 years. In many instances 

 the yield with this variety has exceeded 80 bu. per acre. This variety of oats was 

 obtained througli the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and it is believed that its 

 introduction in Wisconsin will raise the average yield several l)ushels per acre. 

 Petkus and Schlansted, varieties of rye imported from (Tcrmany, have yielded from 

 29 to 41 bu. per acre during 2 seasons. 



From 2 to 10 tons of green forage or 2 to 3 tons of cureii hay have been obtained 

 from an acre of soy beans at the station. The station experiments indicate that soy 

 beans for hay in that region should be sown broadcast at the rate of about 1 bu. of 

 .seed per acre, and the crop cut on the appearance of small pods. If seed is desired 

 it is best to sow the grain in drills 30 in. apart, dropping the seed about 4 in. apart in 

 the row. It can be planted later in the season and appears to give better results at 

 the station than cowpeas. Very good results were obtained when the soy beans were 

 planted with corn for silage. Out of 8 varieties of soy beans tested Medium Early 

 Yellow gave the highest yield, 38 bu. per acre, followed by Ito San, 33.7 bu. per acre, 

 and Michigan Green, 26.7 bu. per acre. The growing period of the first two was 136 

 days and of the last 162 days. No tubercles were produced on the roots of the soy 

 beans grown at the station until after the soil had been inoculated. Six varieties 

 of cowpeas were grown at the station to determine their value for forage and seed 

 production. The varieties Red Ripper and New Era gave the l)est returns, yielding 

 10.8 and 13.7 Vm. per acre, respectively. The varieties did not ripen evenly and a 

 number of the varieties sown failed to ripen seed at all. 



Common varieties of alfalfa at the station have quite generally winterkilled and in 

 other instances have been crowded out by weeds and grass. Turkestan alfalfa has 

 proved much hardier and given better results. The best results were secured when 

 the Turkestan alfalfa was seeded with oats as a nurse crop. The oats were sown at 

 the rate of about 1 bu. per acre and seemed to aid in keeping down the weeds. 

 Cutting alfalfa earlier than it is usually cut for hay seemed to have a detrimental 

 effect upon the crop, reducing the yields. Three crops were cut during the season 

 and gave an average total yield of 4.5 tons of hay per acre. An effort was made to 

 produce seed from the second cutting l)utonly an occasional seed was formed, though 

 the plants flowered profusely. Summing up the results obtained with alfalfa, the 

 author believes that to obtain a good catch in Wisconsin the crop should be seeded 

 in the spring on fall-plowed land as soon as the ground can be put in good condition. 

 If the ground is inclined to be weedy it should be seeded with a nurse crop of oats. 

 Should the oats be inclined to lodge they should be cut, as otherwise they will 

 smother the alfalfa. On very clean ground alfalfa may be scnvn without a nurse 

 crop. 



A test was made of 16 varieties of clover. Of this number Mi.ssouri, Minnesota, 

 Nebraska, Michigan, and English No. 12,174 gave the best results. Hungarian 

 grass (Bromus inerinis) has been found to start 2 weeks in advance of the more com- 

 mon grasses and to furnish pasturage 2 (jr 3 weeks longer in the fall. The hay pro- 



