130 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Reports on experiments on tlie manuring of rye g-rass and clover hay- 

 in 1899, K. P. WmonT {West of Scotland Agr. Col. lipt. JS99, pp. 17).— These experi- 

 ments Mere conducted on 20 faring in 5 different counties of Scotland, for the purpose 

 of comparing different forms of fertilizers applied in various combinations. The work 

 and its results are discussed in detail and the data given in tables. The use of com- 

 mercial fertilizers for rye grass and clover gave a large and profitable increa-^e in 

 yield, even in an unfavorable season. In a complete fertilizer applied in spring, 

 superphosphate was more effective than basic slag. Potash was an effective constit- 

 uent, and was found to be necessary on clays and clay loams, as well as on lighter 

 soils. It was least efficacious on soils in a high state of fertility. As a constituent 

 of a complete fertilizer, potash, at the rate of 1 cwt. per acre, is considere<l the most 

 profital>le. Sulphate of potash and muriate of potash proved to ])e equally suitable 

 for these crops. A mixture of nitrate of soda and of sulphate of ammonia did not give 

 better returns than either applied separately. Barnyard manure, used in conjunc- 

 tion with either of these nitrogenous fertilizers, resulted in a much larger increase in 

 the crop than when applied alone. 



Influence of manures on the botanical composition of grass land, VV. Som- 

 ERViLLE {Jour. Bd. Agr. [London'\, 7 {WOO), No. 2, pp. I40-I66). — This report on 

 fertilizer experiments on grass land shows that nitrate of soda when used with super- 

 phosphate repressed the growth of Agrostis and increased the yield of Cynosurus cris- 

 tatus. When applied alone or with kainit only, the herbage produced was of an 

 inferior type. Its use was unfavorable to the development of leguminous plants and 

 Phmtago lanceolata. Sulphate of ammonia, as compared with nitrate of soda, i)roduced 

 more Agrostis, C. cristatus, and P. lanceolata and less cocksfoot {Dactijlis glomerata) and 

 leguminous plants. Basic slag and superphosphate affected the growth of Agrostis 

 and cocksfoot, but had no general influence on other plants. Superphosphate gen- 

 erally reduced the percentage of Agrostis and cocksfoot, and as compared with basic 

 slag it produced much more Agrostis and less cocksfoot. Kainit markedly increased 

 the yield of leguminous plants, while it decreased the yield of Agrostis. Lime was 

 favorable to the development of P. lanceolata and unfavorable to the yield of Agros- 

 tis and HolcH.'< htnatus. 



Culture experiments with forage plants, A. Sempolowski {Dent. Landu: Presse, 

 28 {1091), No. IS, p. 100). — Brief descriptions of cultural tests with the flat pea 

 {Lathyrus sylrestris), sachaline, soy bean, giant clover " colossal ladino, " Hungarian 

 clover ( Trifollum jKinnonicum) , Siberian vetch ( V'tcia sibirica), hedge vetch ( T'. dume- . 

 tortim), and red and white lupines. 



Cultivation of fodder crops {Agr. Jour. Cape Good Hope, IS {1901), No. 1, jyp. 

 13-15). — A general discussion of the subject. 



The present condition of Russian hop culture {Mitt. Deut. Landw. GeselL, 16 

 {1901), Suj). to No. 6, j^p. 37-41). — An article describing the culture of hops in Rus- 

 sia and the conditions of production. 



Experiments at Rothamsted on the changes in the composition of mangels 

 during storage, N. 11. J. Miller {Jour. Hoy. Agr. »S'oc. England, .3. ser., 11 {1900), 

 pi. 1, pp. 57-64)- — The author reviews the investigations of others on the losses 

 which occur in Swedish turnips, sugar beets, and mangels, and presents the results 

 of his own work with mangels. The mangels were selected from two fields fertilized 

 alike with barnyard manure, basic slag, and sulphate of potash, but one received in 

 addition nitrate of soda at the rate of 550 lbs. per acre. The beets were stored in a 

 brick shed built over a well. They were covered with straw and samples taken for 

 analysis from time to time. The following table shows the results of these analyses 

 as regards changes in composition of the dry matter and percentage losses of organic 

 matter: 



