FIELD CROPS. 541 



Continuous wheat culture proved detrimental to both yield and quality. In series 

 1, commercial fertilizern jiroduced a large increase in the yield of wheat, but they 

 did not have much effect on the yield of corn, while barnyard manure was equally 

 beneticial to both crops. All fertilizers produced a good effect on the yield of corn 

 and oats in series 2, but the effect on the yield of wheat was less marked. Barnyard 

 manure gave a larger iiu;rease in the yield of corn and wheat than the commercial 

 fertilizers, but for oats the increase was about the same for both methods of fertiliza- 

 tion. In continuous wheat growing the effects of commercial fertilizers and barn- 

 yard manure were comparatively small. The use of fertilizers in series 5 showed a 

 large increase in the yield of oats and a small increase in the yield of corn. Heavy 

 applications of connnercial fertilizers largely increased the yield of wheat straw and 

 of clover, although the clover crop was not fertilized directly. In series 6, where a 

 6-course rotation was followed, a heavy application of commercial fertilizers iiroduced 

 a marked increase in the yield of sugar beets, clover, and timothy. In general, light 

 applications of barnyard manure gave better results than heavy applications. With 

 the exception of the oat crop the large applications of commercial fertilizers were 

 much more effective in this series than the large applications of barnyard manure. 

 The light applications of both fertilizing materials gave about equal results, in the 

 case of commercial fertilizers the effects lieing more pronounced on beets, wheat, and 

 timothy, and in the case of barnyard manure on corn, oats, and clover. In con- 

 tinuous corn growing in series 7, the results from both kinds of fertilizers were about 

 the same, and the authors conclude that the smaller applications of commercial fer- 

 tilizers and barnyard manure were sufficient for the crop under the existing condi- 

 tions. The cost of the fertilizers used in these experiments is considered, and the 

 financial results of each series and the average gains and losses per acre with corn, 

 oats, and wheat in the several series, are tabulated. 



The influence of rolling' land on the stand of grain, von Seelhorst {Jour. 

 Landw., 49 {1901), No. 1, p. 5). — This article is a re^wrt on experiments in rolling 

 grain in the spring. In 1898 oats were rolled May 1, when the plants were about 15 

 cm. high, and in 1900 a roller was used on a Avheat field ^Nlay 15, when the wheat 

 was 20 cm. high. In both cases top-dressings were applied in connection with the 

 experiments, and in every instance the results were compared with the results of 

 check tests. The author concludes that rolling grain before it has begun to head has 

 a tendency to prevent lodging in 2 ways, namely, by retarding the growth of the 

 iTop at that period, due to the decrease in nitrification in the compressed condition 

 of the soil, and by giving the roots a better chance to take hold. The compression 

 of the soil may interfere with the growth of the plants to such an extent that the 

 yield is materially decreased, but it was found that depression in yield due to this 

 cau.«e might lie counteracted by a top-dressing of nitrate of soda, which, owing to the 

 compressed condition of the soil, becomes active gradually and does not cause an 

 unfavorable, sudden, and rapid growth. 



Harrowing, rolling, and cultivating cereal crops {Semaine Arjr., 21 {1901), 

 No. J0.39, p. 117). 



Experiments in the culture of leguminous plants, L. Malpeaux {Ann. Agron., 

 27 [1901), No. 2, pp. (J.5-S1). — The work here reported is a study of the effects of 

 nitrate of soda on the development of leguminous plants grown in pots. It was found 

 that nitrate of soda brought in contact with the seeds, especially in the case of clover 

 and alfalfa, had an injurious effect on germination. On ordinary soils rich in nitro- 

 gen tlie use of nitrate of soda seemed superfluous. Inoculating with soil on which 

 leguminous plants had been grown did not always bring about a better development 

 of the plants. The fact that nodules almo.«t always appear on the njots of legumi- 

 nous plants when the soil has ))et'n inoculated tends to indicate, according to the 

 author's views, the truth of the hypothesis that these bacteria are distributed by the 



16275— No. 6—02 4 



