FIELD CROPS. 763 



cent of nitrogen-free extract, and 6.20 per cent of ash. Directions for cultivating the 

 crop and inoculating the soil are given. During several years' work with the soy 

 bean the station lias observed that on land which lias never produced the crop, from 

 3 to 4 years of continuous growing are required to develop nodules upon the roots of 

 all the plants. 



On April 10, 1903, alfalfa was sown at different rates on fall-plowed land with liar- 

 ley and oats as a nurse crop. Three varieties were used, Turkestan. American, and 

 Sand Lucern. After the barley was harvested a cutting of 1.5 tons of hay per acre 

 was secured in the fall, after which the crop made sufficient growth to withstand 

 the winter, hut after the harvest of the oat crop no hay was obtained, the entire 

 growth being left for winter protection. The next season, following a severe w inter, 

 the plants were practically all alive, and the plats with oats as a nurse crop the year 

 before gave the best growth and wen- 4 days earlier than the barley plats. 



Of the varieties, Turkestan was the least satisfactory. Sowingthe seed at the rates 

 of 20 and 35 lbs. per acre showed but little difference, while with from 15 lbs. of 

 seed the stand was a little too thin. A top dressing of finely rotted manure given in 

 the winter showed good effect. Cutting is recommended when about one-fifth of 

 all the plants are in bloom. The crop this season furnished 4 cuttings, as follows: 

 June 6, July 12, Augusl 12, and September 10. The method of having is briefly 

 described. American gave a total yield of 5.7, Turkestan 5, and Sand Lucern 5.6 

 tons of hay per acre. Fifteen lbs. of seed per acre <_ r ave 5.3 tons of hay; 20 lbs., 5.5 

 tons; and 35 lbs., 5.6 tons. 



The main roots of alfalfa sown in the spring of 1901 had penetrated the soil to a 

 depth of 5 ft., while the rootlets went considerably deeper. The roots of the crop 

 sown the spring of 1903 had reached a depth of 3 ft. From observations made 

 throughout the State alfalfa seems to develop nodules naturally on Wisconsin soils. 



The method of breeding grain and forage plants pursued by the station is described, 

 and the results of tests with corn are presented. Minnesota No. 13 corn was tested 

 on a breeding plat, the seed obtained from each selected ear representing a row in 

 the plat. The results are tabulated in detail. This variety was fully ripe September 

 23, and the total yield of ear corn per row ranged from 63.5 to 129 lbs. Each row- 

 also seemed to have characteristics peculiar to itself in leaf as well as in ear develop- 

 ment. The best ears were again selected from each row for seed, and the quantity 

 thus secured varied from 8.5 to 50 lbs. per row. 



Iowa Silver King was grown in an 18.5-acre field to determine the cost of growing 

 corn and to secure seed. Thirty bu. of choice seed corn were selected, but no ears 

 were taken from stalks which had produced suckers, in order that the tendency to 

 sucker might be eliminated. The percentage < if smut developed in the field was only 

 1.7. A yield of 72.5 bu. per acre was secured, of which 12 bu. were select seed corn, 

 48.5 bu. marketable feeding corn, and 12 bu. soft corn and nubbins. An itemized 

 statement of the labor. and expense involved in producing 2.5 acres of this coin is 

 given, from which it appears that the cost of growing, harvesting, and cribbing 1 acre 

 was $19.7.S, or approximately 27 cents per bushel. 



Forage plants, J. W. Blankinship [Montana Sta. Rpt. 1903, pp. 66-68). — Among 

 forage grasses suitable on semiarid ranges several species of blue joinl | Agropyron) 

 have been grown successfully at the station for several years, but an attempt to secure 

 a stand of buffalo grass (Bautelova oligostachya) met with failure. The value of one 

 species of blue joinl (Agropyron occideniale) as a bay grass in different sections of 

 Montana is discussed. Experiments at the station have shown that the grass is 

 readily grown from ordinary planting. 



Variety tests, A. K. Bisseb I Pennsylvania Sta. Rj>t. 1903, pp. 82-94). — The results 

 of plat tests with wheat, oats, and potatoes are reported. The wheat was drilled at 

 the rate ol 8 pk. per acre on September 8. The land had received a top-dressing of 

 8 tons of barnyard manure per acre, was then plowed on August 20, and at the time 



