FIELD CROPS. 969 



lbs. of potash was used was 5.1 tons per acre, and where 200 lbs. was used, 5.3 tons. 

 Taking the experiment as a whole, the yields ranged from 3.85 tons to 6.76 tons per 

 acre. The author's calculation shows an apparent advantage of $1.15 per year per 

 acre in favor of the larger application of potash, but owing to the fact that the plat 

 receiving the smaller quantity produced the larger crop the year before the test was 

 begun, the present results are considered inconclusive. The data derived from the 

 experiments show that good financial returns may be obtained from grass culture 

 with the use of commercial fertilizers alone. The use of 400 to 500 lbs. of acid phos- 

 phate and 300 to 350 lbs. each of muriate of potash and nitrate of soda per acre 

 applied from April 15 to 25 is suggested as being best adapted as an annual top 

 dressing on land where a good stand of timothy and redtop already exists, where a 

 too great degree of soil acidity does not prevail, and where commercial fertilizers 

 only are used. Brief directions for seeding grass lands are given. 



Fertilizer experiments on meadows, P. Liechti (Landw. Jahrb. Schweiz, IS 

 (1904), No. 11, pp. 491-530, fig. 1). — The results of experiments carried on for 6 

 years are given. The fertilizers were applied in different combinations and quantities. 

 A good yield of hay was obtained on the check plat, but the use of liquid manure 

 and commercial fertilizers produced a marked increase in yield amounting to almost 

 50 per cent where phosphoric acid and liquid manure were given together. Phos- 

 phoric acid and potash in combination gave a much higher increase in yield than 

 either element applied alone. The application of lime gave indefinite results but 

 largely promoted the growth of leguminous plants. It is shown that annual appli- 

 cations of potash were necessary to keep the production of the meadow at its maxi- 

 mum. The use of superphosphate and Thomas slag did not increase the quantity of 

 phosphoric acid taken up by the plant to a very great extent, while potash and 

 liquid manure alone reduced the content of phosphoric acid. The percentage of pot- 

 ash in the hay increased with the quantity of potash applied to the soil. The amount 

 of nitrogen removed in the crop was greatest when Thomas slag and kainit were 

 given. The use of superphosphate and kainit also produced a marked increase of 

 nitrogen in the plants. In the tests with single elements the percentage of nitrogen 

 was highest on the potash plat. 



Superphosphate alone seemed to reduce the proportion of leguminous plants, while 

 Thomas slag did not have this effect. Potash alone increased the grasses and reduced 

 the quantity of leguminous plants by 3.5 per cent. The applications of superphos- 

 phate and kainit and of Thomas slag and kainit gave a considerable increase in the 

 grasses and a marked decrease in other species. A heavy application of potash given 

 with phosphates increased both grasses and leguminous plants. A complete ferti- 

 lizer promoted the growth of grasses at the expense of all other species. Liquid 

 manure alone and in combination with superphosphate was most effective in increas- 

 ing the proportion of grasses. The best financial returns were obtained from the use 

 of liquid manure and superphosphate, bone meal and kainit, and Thomas slag and 

 kainit. 



Hop experiments, 1904, A. Howard (County Councils Kent and Surrey, South- 

 eastern Agr. I 'ol. 11'//'', Bui. 1, 1904-5, pp. 29, pis. 8, figs. 4)- — A description of the male 

 and female flowers of the hop is given, and the results of experiments carried on at 

 different centers are recorded. In cross fertilization experiments it was noticed that 

 young hops which were not pollinated remained in blossom for a much longer period 

 than those which were pollinated. Hops artificially pollinated started to grow out 

 at once, while those which had received no pollen began their growth a week to 10 

 days later. Fertilization seemed to stimulate the growth, to hasten ripening, to 

 improve the color, and to increase the mold-resisting power of the plant. An exam- 

 ination of nearly ripe hops showed that no well-developed plants were without seeds; 

 it was further noticed that fully developed seed hops and poorly developed, unripe 



