34 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



In the experiments with rye nitrate of soda proved injurious in proportion to the 

 amount of perchlorate of potash added. The perchlorate applied alone was injuri- 

 ous only in a small degree. In general, the injurious effects of perchlorate of potash 

 were more pronounced than those of potassium chlorid, and less so than sodium 

 perchlorate. Oats was much less sensitive to these substances than rye. 



Influence of the right amount and the right distribution of water in crop 

 production, F. H. King ( Wisconsin Sta. Rpt. 1900, pp. 185-188) . — This is a report on 

 the yields of hay, corn, and potatoes grown under different degrees of soil humidity. 

 The rainfall for the years 1898, 1899, and 1900 is compared, and the amount of water 

 applied in irrigating this season is given. The year was not favorable for hay and 

 small grain on account of only a small rainfall early in the season, but these condi- 

 tions are considered as having favored the development of nitrates in the soil, which 

 was beneficial to the corn crop. Corn has been grown on the same plats since 1894, 

 and for the entire period the average yield of water-free substance per acre was 1,993 

 lbs. greater on irrigated ground than on ground not irrigated. The first four years of 

 the experiment the average gain due to irrigation was 3,543 lbs. of water-free substance 

 per acre, but for the last three years it was only 62.2 lbs. On the sandy portion of 

 one of two potato plats there was an increase of 81.4 bu. per acre due to irrigation, 

 but on the heavier soil of the plat there was a decrease of 56 bu. per acre. The 

 plats were irrigated twice and the last irrigation was followed by rains, which is 

 considered the cause of the decrease in yield on the heavy soil. On the other plat, 

 which also had a heavy soil, the results were in favor of no irrigation. Flat culture 

 gave a larger increase in yield than irrigation, but irrigation increased the yield of 

 potatoes 11.6 bu. per acre over ridge culture. The different quantities of water 

 applied by irrigation to supplement the rainfall, and the yields obtained from the 

 various plats, are given in tables. 



A five-year rotation of crops, H. J. Wheeler and J. A. Tillinghast {Rhode 

 Island Sta. Bid. 76, pp. 105-128) . — This bulletin describes an experiment with a 5-year 

 rotation carried through its first course on 5 different plats, and gives the yields 

 obtained in tabular form. The history of the different plats is given, showing that at 

 the beginning of these experiments in 1893 corn grown without fertilizers was unable 

 to attain a height of more than about 5 in. during the entire season. The order of 

 the rotation tested was corn the first year, potatoes the second, winter rye the third, 

 and grass the fourth and fifth years. The various fertilizer applications, consisting 

 of chemicals and commercial fertilizers only, are given for the different plats for 

 each season. During the first course of the rotation only two of the five plats gave 

 profitable returns. In the summary, the authors report a yield of 13.78 bu. of corn 

 and 1,3 tons of stover per acre in 1893; 72.57 bu. of grain and 2.4 tons of stover in 

 1896, and 65.71 bu. of grain and 3.9 tons of stover in 1900. The potato crops showed 

 the largest gains. The smallest crop of marketable potatoes, 60 bu. per acre, was pro- 

 duced in 1893, and the largest crop, 283.33 bu. in 1900, when the total yield amounted 

 to 321.66 bu. The results with rye were irregular but are considered as indicating 

 the increase of assimilable nitrogen in the soil. From the fact that the grass crops 

 have remained small it is believed that they received an insufficient amount of fer- 

 tilizer. This rotation was not as profitable as the three and four year rotations pre- 

 viously reported (E. S. R., 12, p. 1030). The changes suggested by the author are 

 beginning the rotation with rye, increasing the fertilizer application for the grass 

 crops, and applying the fertilizers for the potato crops entirely in the drill. 



Results obtained in 1900 from trial plats of grain, fodder corn, field 

 roots, and potatoes, W. Saunders {Canada Cent. Expt. Farm Bui. 36, pp. 5-51, 

 figs. 4)- — This report is a record of cooperative variety tests in continuation of those 

 previously reported (E. S. R., 12, p. 134). The plan of the experiments has 

 remained unchanged, but owing to unfavorable weather conditions at the Brandon 

 and Indian Head farms no results are reported from these places for this season. 



