1032 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



samples of fertilizing; materials examined during 1901. The average composition of 

 the fertilizers examined during 1901 is given and their selling price and valuation 

 are compared with similar data for fertilizers examined during previous years. 



On the rational use of sulphite solutions from fiber factories in the prepa- 

 ration of fertilizers, T. Knosel {('hem. Zty., £6 (1902), No. 21, p. 229). — This is a 

 brief account of a patented process in which sulphite solution evaporated to 25° 

 Baume is mixed with an equal amount of Thomas slag, thereby largely increasing the 

 percentage of citrate-soluble phosphoric acid in this material. 



Formation of oceanic salt deposits, particularly of the Stassfurt beds. 

 XXIV. Gypsum and anhydrite. 3. Natural anhydrite and its formation 

 at 25°, J. H. vax't Hokf and F. Weigert {Sitzber. Kgl. Preasx. Akud. Wm. Berlin, 

 1901, XLVIII, pp. 1140-114^; abs. in Jour. Chein. Hoc. {London'], 82 {1902), No. 412, 

 II, p. 137). 



FIELD CROPS. 



Report of the experimentalist, C. A. Z.witz {(hUario Agr. Col. and E.rpl. Farm 

 Rpt. 1901, pp. 82-111). — The work here reported consists largely of variety and culture 

 tests and is in continuation of experiments conducted for some years (E. 8. R., 13, 

 p. 338). Brief comments on other work by the experimentalist are also given. 



Seed grain selections with oats, barley, peas, and spring and winter wheat have 

 been in progress from 5 to 8 years, and the average yields of straw and grain and the 

 weight of grain per measured liushel in each case are in favor of large, plump seed 

 as compared with medium-sized or small seed. Shrunken seed of barley and spring 

 and winter wheat and broken seed of barley produced small yields. Split seed of 

 peas and winter wheat yielded only 10 and 8 bu. of grain per acre, respectively. 



Of 228 varieties of oats tested during the past 14 years, White Siberian, Oder- 

 brucker, Vick American Banner, and Bavarian were among the very best general- 

 purpose varieties. Joanette Black is reported as a large yielder, with exceedingly 

 short straw. It stools abundantly and for this reason very thin sowing is recom- 

 mended on rich soils. Daubeney and Alaska have jiroved to be verv early varieties. 

 Seed oats obtained from varieties sent from the college to the Missouri station 4 

 years ago were compared with seed from the same varieties grown continuously at 

 the college. The Missouri seed produced the largest yield of grain per acre and the 

 Ontario seed the heaviest grain per measured bushel. Continuous seed selection of 

 Joanette oats for 9 years resulted in 1901 iri a yield of 44.4 bu. for large, plump seed, 

 28.5 bu. for light-weighing and light-colored seed, and 37 bu. per acre for hulled 

 seed. The grain from large, plump seed weighed 5 lbs. more i)er measured bushel 

 than that produced from light seed. 



Among the 6rowe<l varieties of barley grown for a luimher of years, Manshury 

 gave decidetUy the best results. The average results for the past 13 years show that 

 this variety yielded about 9 bu. per acre more than the connnon 6-rowed barley of 

 Ontario. OderVjrucker, Scotch Improved, and Imperial Six-Rowed are also classed 

 among the best. The best 2-rowed barley jaelded an average of about 13 or 14 bu. 

 of grain less per acre than the best 6-rowed variety. New Zealand Chevalier and 

 French Chevalier were among the very best 2-rowed varieties. The hulless barleys 

 gave much smaller yields of grain than ]\Ianshury. Of the varieties tested for sev- 

 eral years Guy Mayle, Purple, and Black Hulless produced the most grain. 



A mixture of barley and oats in 9 tlifferent proportions was tested for 2 successive 

 years. The mixture of 1 bu. of oats and I5 bu. of barley per acre gave the best yield 

 of grain in 1900 and the second best in 1901, but the average yield for the year was in 

 favor of this proportion. It was found that in the yield of straw \\ bu. of oats and 

 1 bu. of barley made the best record. 



In several years' experiments with spring wheat, excluding the macaroni varieties. 

 Red Fife, Herison Bearded, Wellman Fife, and Red Fern gave the best average 



