FIELD CROP?. 865 



The effect of copper sulphate and iron sulphate solutions on agricultural 

 plants, Sachser (Centbl. Agr. Chem., 88 (1904), No. 8, pp., 588 585).- Po1 experi- 

 ments and field tests were made, with potatoes, oats, and clover, in which the 

 healthy plants were sprayed with solutions of copper sulphate and iron sulphate 

 with beneficial effects. 



Alfalfa, VV. R. Perkins (Mississippi Sta. Qirc. 18, pp. 8, figs. ?). — Popular direc- 

 tions an- given for the culture of alfalfa under southern conditions. 



Lucern and trefoil. 1>. Finlayson and J. S. Remington (Aynsonn Agr. Sta., 

 Grange-over-Sands, Cent. Seed-Testing Lab. Farmers' Bul.3, pp. 8, fig. I). Brief descrip- 

 tions and cultural notes are given for alfalfa and trefoil. 



The testing of corn for seed, A. N. Hume I Illinois Sta. Bui. 96, pp. {01-416, 

 figs. 6). — This bulletin discusses the importance of testing seed corn and gives com- 

 plete directions for performing the work. 



The methods of testing with plates and sand, with box and cloth in the form of 

 the Geneva Tester, and with box and blotters, are described in detail. The testing 

 of every ear of seed corn is advocated and experiments were made to determine how 

 much time is required to perform the work of testing each ear in a bushel. In the 

 Geneva Tester 4 kernels from each ear of 9 bu. of seed corn required a total time of 

 401 minutes, or an average of 45 minutes per bushel; and in sand. ■"> bit. required 375 

 minutes or75 minutes per bushel. The rate the work was done in the ( Icneva Tester 

 indicates that one man in 10 hours' time can test seed corn enough for 67 acres, count- 

 ing 1 bu. of seed for 5 acres. 



The inspection of 2 lots of seed corn when 4 kernels were taken from each ear and 

 carefully examined required 44 minutes per bushel, while testing these same lots in 

 the Geneva Tester required only 32 minutes per bushel. The results of testing 18 

 lots of seed corn obtained from farmers and 19 lots from corn specialists are given 

 in a table. A composite test of the entire lot, as well as a test of each ear, was made. 

 All ears of which any of the 4 kernels removed did not grow were discarded as unfit 

 for seed, and a test was then made of this lot and the remaining good seed ears. The 

 composite test showed a germination of 85.19 per cent, the good ears of 94 per cent, 

 and the discarded cars of 66.11 per cent. 



These results indicated that by testing each ear in a lot of seed corn as described 

 "it is possible to determine with accuracy which of those ears have the highest aver- 

 age per cent of germinable kernels." 



Experiments with cotton, corn, and oats in 1904, J. F. Dcggar and J. M. 

 RlCHESON (Alabama Canebrake Sta. Bui. .'.', />/>. 32). — Russell and Peerless were the 

 most productive varieties of cotton grown on bottom land, and King and Peterkin 

 on poor upland. On the bottom land the highest value of lint and seed, at 9 cts. a 

 pound and 70 cts. a cut., respectively, was $60.34 per aire and the lowest on the 

 poor upland, $6.07. 



Subsoiling, in general, showed no decided benefit. Deep and shallow plowing for 

 cotton gave inconclusive results. On poor, reddish prairie land 240 lbs. of acid phos- 

 phate per acre, given alone and in different combinations with kainitand cotton-seed 

 meal, produced an average increase of 72.5 lbs. of lint; and 200 lbs. of cotton-seed 

 meal, alone or in combination with acid phosphate and kainit, increased the average 

 yield of lint by 47.5 lbs. Kainit proved ineffective, while nitrate of soda, cotton- 

 seed meal, cotton seed, and barnyard manure were profitable on prairie land wherever 

 tested. 



Results as to the best time of applying nitrate of soda were indefinite, but its use 

 is advised at the first or second cultivation of corn or cotton. Barnyard manure of 

 good quality lightly covered in the center furrow increased the return from cotton 

 and corn during the first and second years from $2.40 to $6.10 per ton of manure. 

 Working huge quantities of corn stover or cotton-seed hulls into the soil was of no 

 marked advantage. On poor red soil basic slag and acid phosphate were equally 



