862 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



of 262 samples of fertilizers on sale in Mississippi during the season of 1002-3. "Of 

 (his number 28, or L0.68 per cent, were below the guarantee in one or more of the 

 essential elements and also in the relative commercial value." 



Analyses of commercial fertilizers (Smith Carolina Sta. Bui. 94, pp. 3). — 

 Analyses and valuations of 15 fertilizers are reported. 



Mines and quarries, 1902 ( U. S. Dept. (loin. <ih<1 Labor, Bureau of the Census, 

 Spec. Rpts., 1905, pp. XX IX \ 1 1 .'■'>, ph. 4'K dgms. 28). — Among the materials of 

 agricultural importance for which statistics are given are cement, clay, gypsum, 

 phosphates, and marl. Advance statements of the data relating to these materials 

 have already heen noted (E. S. R., 15, p. 1063). 



FIELD CROPS. 



Arid farming in Utah, J. A. Widtsoe and L. A. Merrill ( I'tcili Sta. Bui. 91, 

 pp. 67-1 IS, figs. 14)- — This bulletin, the first report of the State Experimental Arid 

 Farms, reviews the history of arid farming in Utah, discusses its feasibility, reports 

 briefly the results so far obtained, and suggests future lines of work. Six experi- 

 mental arid farms of 40 acres each, established by the State, are under the direction 

 of the station. 



The rainfall records for the first year show a precipitation of more than 10 in. on 

 all farms and an average of 12.5 in. The gravel in the soils of the different farms 

 varied from 1.05 to 20.15 percent, the sand from 50.96 to 75.52 per cent, the silt 

 from 13.16 to 28.48 per cent, and the clay from 9.62 to 15.75 per cent. 



The highest yield of winter wheat recorded at any of the farms was 23.83 bu. and 

 of macaroni spring wheat, 21.25 bu. Of several varieties of oats, Sixty-Day gave the 

 best general results, the yields ranging from 3.75 to 36.01 bu. per acre. The highest 

 yields of barley and rye recorded are 34.9 and 14.04 bu. per acre, respectively. 

 Emmer was grown on 2 of the farms and yielded 23.55 bu. on the one, and 17.68 bu. 

 per acre on the other. In every case fall planting of alfalfa proved a failure while 

 spring planting produced a stand wherever tried. 



Crops of corn were secured on all farms except one wdiere frosts prevented 

 maturity. The best yield of corn amounted to 25.93 bu. of ear corn and about a ton 

 of stover per acre. Promising results were also obtained with sugar beets, grasses, 

 and miscellaneous forage crops. 



Report of field work done at the college station for 1903, W. R. Perkins 

 (Mississippi Sta. Bui. 84, pj>- -'4)- — Twelve varieties of cotton were grown on small 

 plats. The long staple varieties, Allen, Davis, and Black Rattler, were long limbed 

 and all from 4 to 5 ft. high. Edgeworth, a tall-growing variety, but medium in 

 limb, led in yield with 1,920 lbs. of seed cotton per acre. King, selected for 9 years, 

 was the tallest and longest-limbed cotton in the test, and in length of staple exceeded 

 ordinary King by more than a quarter of an inch. The effects of fertilizers on cot- 

 ton were not very evident, but where 50 lbs. of nitrate of soda, 100 lbs. of cotton-seed 

 meal, and 200 lbs. each of acid phosphate and kainit were used per acre a profit of 

 $3.40 was secured. 



The yields of 12 varieties of corn, ranging from 26.7 to 75.1 bu. per acre, are 

 recorded and the different varieties are briefly noted. Southern Snowflake led in 

 yield, being followed by Mosby Prolific, Red Cob, and Marlboro Prolific, each yield- 

 ing over 72 bu. per acre, while all other varieties yielded much less. Variations in 

 yield were in part due to differences in the growth on the various plats. In a fer- 

 tilizer test nitrate of soda and cotton-seed meal proved beneficial, but kainit was of 

 no benefit. 



Nine varieties of wheat ranged in yield from 2.2 to 10.2 bu. per acre, and the yield 

 of hay from the same varieties from 2,600 to 4,000 lbs. per acre. A top-dressing of 



