42 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



10 cni, apart, and suspending a weight from the middle. The carrying or sustaining 

 capacity of the different internodes is given in grams. 



Ten experiments with potatoes, and potato culture in New England, F. W. 

 Rank and H. F. Hall (New Hampshire Sta. Bui. Ill, pp. 100-130, figs. 8).— The 

 results of a series of fertilizer experiments and of a variety test are reported. Appli- 

 cations of 1,500 lbs. each of Stockbridge potato manure and of home-mixed fertilizer 

 gave practically equal yields but there was a saving of approximately $8.68 per acre 

 in favor of home mixing. Both applications contained 3 per cent of nitrogen, 6 per 

 cent of phosphoric acid, and 10 per cent of potash. The home-mixed application 

 consisted of 150 lbs. of nitrate of soda, 112| lbs. of sulphate of ammonia, 565j lbs. of 

 boneblack, and 300 lbs. of muriate of potash. A comparison between the New York 

 and New Jersey home-mixed formula and the New Hampshire formula indicated that 

 the 2 were of about equal value. 



A potash test was made to determine how much potash can be used economically. 

 The plat without potash produced a fair crop. The use of 150 lbs. of muriate of 

 potash produced an increase of 30 bu. of marketable potatoes at a cost of about 11 cts. 

 per bu., 300 lbs. increased the yield by 46 bu. at a cost of 14 cts. per bu., and 450 

 lbs. by 48 bu. at a cost of 20 cts. per bu. The application of 300 lbs. of muriate of 

 potash or 10 per cent of potash in the fertilizer formula is considered best. 



Comparative results between applying the commercial fertilizer all in the hill or one- 

 half in the hill and the remainder broadcast showed no material difference. Fifteen 

 cords of barnyard manure per acre increased the yield by 1 27 bu. of marketable potatoes 

 and where 750 lbs. and 1,500 lbs. of the fertilizer formula were applied with this quan- 

 tity of manure the yields were increased by 107 bu. and 101 bu. of marketable pota- 

 toes respectively. Larger applications of commercial fertilizer did not give as good 

 results. In general, plowing under barnyard manure gave better results than har- 

 rowing it in. An experiment in applying the commercial fertilizer above and below 

 the seed resulted in the best yields from applying it above the seed. The results were 

 the same whether the 15 cords of barnyard manure were used in conjunction with 

 the fertilizer or not. 



Brief descriptions of 50 varieties of potatoes are given, and notes on modern potato 

 culture are presented. The average comparative yields of a list of varieties are shown 

 in a table. 



Variety tests with potatoes, A. Rindell ( Landtbr. Styr. MeddeL, 1003, No. 44, 

 pp. 28, >0). — The results with 15 varieties showing the yields, starch content, disease- 

 resisting power, and keeping quality are reported. — f. w. woll. 



On the practical application of manganous chlorid in rice culture, K. Aso 

 (Bui. Col. Agr., Tokyo Imp. Univ., 6 (1004), No. 2, pp. 131-133).— Two square plats 

 of 30 square meters each which had not been manured for several years received each 

 27 kg. of barnyard manure, 15.5 kg. of night soil, 230 gm. of double superphosphate, 

 and 570 gm. of wood ashes. One of the plats received in addition 25 kg. of manganic 

 oxid in the form of manganous chlorid. The use of manganic oxid increased the 

 yield of husked full grains of rice by one-third. A similar result was obtained by 

 Nagaoka, who applied the same amount of manganic oxid in the form of the sulphate. 



The stimulating action of manganese upon rice, M. Nagaoka (Bid. Col. Agr., 

 Tokyo Imp. Univ., 5 (1003), No. 4, pp. 467-472).— Preliminary experiments having 

 shown that manganese sulphate in small quantities exerted a favorable influence on 

 the development of various plants, it was determined to carry on an experiment with 

 rice under field conditions. 



Equal areas of a rice field were marked off and manganese sulphate applied in such 

 quantities that the amount of manganic oxid was equivalent to from 10 to 55 kg. per 

 hectare. The crop was harvested in November, and the yield in grain and straw is 

 shown in tabular form. There was found to be a progressive and decided increase 

 in the plats receiving manganese sulphate, up to the one receiving 25 kg. per hectare, 



