•444 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD, 



Fertilizer experiments on clover and rye grass {Counfjf Councils Cumberland, 

 Durham, and Xorthnmherland, IWIt. Education, Rpt. 9 {1!)00), }>p. 30-86). — The results 

 of cooperative fertilizer experiments on elover and rye grass at six different centers 

 are reported. The application found most profitable consisted of 1 cwt. of nitrate of 

 soda and f cwt. of sulphate of ammonia per acre. Two hundredweight nitrate of 

 soda gave almost as good results, the nitrate proving more generally useful than the 

 sulphate of ammonia. Superphosphate was profitable in two cases only. 



Experiments upon hops, 1900, A. D. Hall [Jour. Southead. Arjr. Col. Wye, 

 lUOl, Xu. 10, pp. 21-S'2). — The experiments here reported include a study of the effect 

 of cutting the hop vine at picking time, a comparison of different systems of training as 

 to the yield and observations on the effect of stripping the plants of their lower leaves 

 and laterals. The data obtained through a series of chemical analyses, the results of 

 which are tabulated, show that a valuable amount of nutritive material is retained 

 l)y the root if the vine and leaves are allowed to rii)en before their removal. The 

 -^iraining experiments this season resulted in the best yields from the ck>sely-planted 

 systems. The previous season, when a much heavier crop was obtained, the results 

 favored the widely-planted systems. Stripping materially reduced the yield, while 

 in 1899 it caused no loss. These results were to some extent effected l)y the character 

 of the seasons. 



A report on tests -with, sport varieties of oats in 1899, K. Kitti>aiss [Dent. 

 Landn: Presse, 28 (1901), Noa. 18, p. 149; 19, p. 158). 



Potato grooving- experiments, J. S. Gordox {Jonr. A'o//. llort.Soc. [^London'\, 24- 

 {1900), Xo. o, pp. 2S-1-2!)S). — This is a report on experiments with potatoes with 

 especial reference to .«eed, methods of planting, and the u.se of fertilizei's. The selec- 

 tion of seed potatoes, the origination of new varieties, and the importance of tilth in 

 potato culture are discussed. The results of tests with cuttinsrs or whole tubers and 

 different sized cuttings for seed and of experiments with commercial fertilizers 

 and barnyard manure applied alone and in different cond)inations are presented in 

 tabular form. The average yield of 5 varieties from cuttings and from whole tuVjers 

 was 12 tons 5 cwt., and 13 tons 3 cwt. of salable potatoes per acre, respectively. Cut- 

 tings of 6 different sizes, the diameter varying from 1 to 2^ in., were compared and 

 the results showed that fairly large sets produce heavier yields than small sets, but 

 they are not so profitable. It was further noticed that the yield of small tubers 

 increases with the number of stems a j>otato produces, and that the varieties with the 

 strongest stalks were the most drought-resisting. Barnyard manure was more effec- 

 tive than commercial fertilizers, owing to a large extent to its beneficial in3uence on 

 the mechanical condition of the soil. Superphosphate in connection Avith barnyard 

 manure decreased the yield. Sulphate of ammonia gave better results than nitrate 

 of soda. An application of 15 tons of barnyard manure, 1 cwt. sulphate of ammonia, 

 and 3 cwt. of superphosphate per acre, yielded llj cwt. of salable potatoes less than 

 the same application with the addition of 1 cwt. of muriate of potash, but the per- 

 centage of .salal)le tubers was about the same. INIuriate of jiotash was more effective 

 than kainit. The use of 1 cwt. of jjotash gave l)etter results than double that amount. 



Experiment on potatoes (Counti/ Councils Cumberland, Durham, and Xorthntn- 

 herlaiid, Terh. Eduratloit, Rpt. 9 (1900), pp. 21-29). — The results of a cooperative 

 exjieriment on potatoes conducted on 5 different farms are reported. An applica- 

 tion of 1^ cwt. sulphate of ammonia. If cwt. of superphosphate and f cwt. of 

 sulphate of potash per acre, in addition to 12 tons of barnyard manure, gave better 

 results than the use of double this quantity of commercial fertilizers. The most 

 profitable dressing of commercial fertilizers alone consists of 2\ cwt. sulphate of 

 ammonia, 3^ cwt. superphosphate, and 3 cwt. sulphate of potash, but the results 

 on other plats indicated that if J cwt. of nitrate of soda and 1 cwt. of fish meal had 

 been substituted for 1 cwt. of the sulphate of ammonia, the returns would have been 

 still more profitable. Copious dressings uf sulphate and muriate of potash were 



