742 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



for muskmelons has already been noted (E. S. R., 11, p. 445). The average 

 increased yield from the use of nitrate of soda in 1899 was 110 per cent, sulphate of 

 ammonia 84 per cent, and dried blood 108 per cent — results in accord with those of 

 the preceding year. The amount of nitrate of soda used in the first group of plats 

 was 150 lbs. per acre, sulphate of ammonia 120 lbs., and dried blood 200 lbs. The 

 actual amount of nitrogen applied was the same in each case. These amounts seemed 

 to conduce to a normal growth of melons. When the amounts were multiplied by 

 If and 2J the yield of melons was considerably depressed and the value of the crop 

 decreased. The effect of the fertilizers on earliness is somewhat conflicting in the 

 different groups; the average percentage of early melons for all groups is as follows: 

 Nitrate of soda 34.6 per cent, sulphate of ammonia 44.6 per cent, and dried blood 

 54.5 per cent. The proportion of culls from the nitrate of soda plats for the 2 years, 

 1898 and 1899, averaged 24.7 per cent, from the sulphate of ammonia plats 31.6 per 

 cent, and from the dried blood plats 31 per cent. 



In 1900 the experiment was modified to study, in addition to the features already 

 noted, the relative advantages of 2 and 3 applications of the different nitrogenous 

 fertilizers. Unfavoral)le weather interfered with the experiment. In the main the 

 results correspond with those of the 2 preceding years. Two applications proved 

 more effective with nitrate of soda than 3, but the unfavorable weather experienced 

 does not give weight to this result. 



Experiment with diflferent forms and amounts of nitrogen upon sweet 

 corn, C. C. Hulsart {Xew Jersey Sias. Rpt. 1900, pp. 134-130). — This experiment 

 was begun in 1898 (E. S. R., 11, p. 446) and has now been conducted 3 years. Nitrate 

 of soda, sulphate of ammonia, and dried blood have been compared as sources of 

 nitrogen for sweet corn. In the first group of plats 150 11)S. of nitrate of soda, 120 lbs. 

 of sulphate of ammonia, and 200 lbs. of dried blood, furnishing the same amount of 

 nitrogen in each case, were used per acre. In the second and third groups these 

 amounts were multiplied by 1| and 2|. The results of the experiment at the end of 

 3 years show an increase in yield for the different forms of nitrogen of from 23.3 to 

 40.2 per cent. The largest yield of both corn and stalks in every instance, save nitrate 

 of soda, has been obtained with the heavier applications of nitrogen. The total 

 results are in favor of sulphate of ammonia as a source of nitrogen for corn, though 

 there is but little difference between the ammonia and the dried blood. The gross 

 returns for the 3 years for the use of sulphate of ammonia were $12.66 per acre, dried 

 blood 19.95, and nitrate of soda $9.69. The cost of the fertilizers in each case averaged 

 about $4 per acre, thus showing a very satisfactory net profit from the use of these 

 fertilizers on soils already in good cultural condition. 



An experiment with cabbage in 1899, C. C. Hulsart {New Jersey Stas. Ept. 

 1900, pp. 131-133). — Nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, and dried blood were 

 used alone in increasing amounts with cabbage. All 3 forms of nitrogen gave greatly 

 increased yields over the control plat, but the dried blood, applied at the rate of 270 

 lbs. per acre, was most effective. Nitrate of soda, applied at the rate of 200 lbs. per 

 acre, stood a close second. The average increased value, due to the use of all the 

 fertilizers, was over $50 per acre. All forms were about equally effective in hasten- 

 ing the earliness of the crop. 



Irrigation experiments, E. B. Voorhees {Nev) Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1900, pp. 

 182-212). — The author discusses the subject of irrigation in the humid climate of 

 the Eastern States, basing his statements largely on the results secured in New Jersey 

 with blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, and miscellaneous crops. 

 Nearly all the data given have appeared previously (E. S. R., 11, pp. 735, 1039). 

 Topics discussed are the shortage of water in humid regions, in which it is shown 

 that in 53 out of the last 60 years in New Jersey there has been at least 1 month in 

 the growing season when there was such a deficiency of rainfall as to cause a serious 

 shortage of crops, 33 years in which the deficiency extended through 2 mouths, &\\A 



