1066 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The roots of plants, A. M. Tex Eyck (Kansas Sta. Bui. 127, pp. 107-252, figs. 

 26). — Work along this line by the author has been previously noted (E. S. R., 12, p. 

 516). 



In addition to observations on the root systems of corn, wheat, flax, and potatoes, 

 which formed the basis of earlier work, this bulletin describes the root development 

 of listed and level-planted corn, Kafir corn, sorghum, oats, barley, orchard grass, 

 Bromus inermis, big blue stem, buffalo grass, Kentucky blue grass, clover, alfalfa, 

 soy beans, cowpeas, sugar beets, and trees. The method of preparing the samples is 

 described and illustrated. In summarizing the author points out the differences in 

 the root systems of the different crops studied. 



It was found that the roots of corn are more extensive than those of Kafir corn 

 and sorghum. Kafir corn has a thick growth of surface roots, while the root system 

 of sorghum has a greater resemblance to that of corn. The root system of listed corn 

 had developed at a uniform depth, and the surface roots were uniformly deeper in 

 the soil than in level-planted corn. The roots of wheat, oats, and barley did not 

 spread out so far hut went deeper into the soil than the roots of corn and other culti- 

 vated crops. 



Oats and barley produced a large, fibrous growth of roots in the surface soil, but 

 the largest growth of fibrous roots in the upper soil was made by the perennial 

 grasses. Certain grasses also extended their roots deeper into the soil than any 

 other class of crops except the perennial, leguminous plants. Alfalfa, the deepest 

 rooted crop studied, showed only a small growth of til irons roots near the surface, the 

 principal root development being deeper in the soil. Cowpeas and soy beans appear 

 to be light-rootin<r crops. The roots of flax, as well as those of potatoes, developed 

 near the surface. The root system of the sugar beet lies comparatively deep. 



The author cautions against cultivating so deep as.to break the large lateral roots 

 of corn lying at a depth of about 4 in. midway between the rows. As the roots of 

 listed corn lie deeper, it may be cultivated close to the hill and .'! to 4 in. deep at the 

 last cultivation without injury to the root-: while in level-planted corn, the roots rising 

 nearly to the surface several inches from the hill are destroyed by close cultivation. 

 Deep cultivation for the purpose of forming a thick soil mulch is recommended fol- 

 iate cultivation and laying by of corn in hot and dry climates. The root system of 

 the potato requires shallow cultivation, while that of the sugar beet admits of deep 

 cultivation. 



Observations were also made to determine the effect of the different crops on the 

 moisture content of the soil. Samples taken September 28, 1903, showed that soil on 

 which a crop of broadcasted sorghum was produced contained on an average for 6ft. 

 in depth .'!.">1 percent less moisture than corn ground, while soil having produced 

 Kafir corn contained 2.88 per cent less. Soy bean soil showed a moisture content of 

 1.75 per cent greater than the corn soil. On ."March 14, 1904, another set of samples 

 was taken for the same purpose and observations on 11 different crops were made. 

 The largest amount of moisture in the soil was found on the ground which had pro- 

 duced cultivated crops in 1903, the corn ground ranking first and Kafir corn ground 

 last. On the oats, wheat, barley, emmer, and flax plats the soil contained from 

 2.91 to 3.43 per cent less moisture than the soil of the corn plat, which showed a 

 uniformly high percentage of moisture in each foot of soil. 



The results of field experiments with farm crops, C. A. Zavitz (Ontario Agr. 

 Col. mill Expt. Farm Bid. 140, />/>. 62, dgm. 1). — This bulletin describes the work of 

 the experimental department of the college, presents statistics on areas of farm crops 

 in Ontario, and reports in detail the results of the year. 



The average annual yields of different crops in Ontario for the past 1'.'! years are 

 recorded as follows: Barley, 1,301 lbs.; winter wheat, 1,218; oats, 1,217; peas, 1,170; 

 beans, 1,026; spring wheat, 942; buckwheat, 936, and rye, 913 lbs. These same 

 crops, except beans, show an average considerably higher for the years 1902 to 1904, 



