138 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



was sown ill 1887 on land which in that year and in the preceding year 

 had not been fertilized. Beginning with 1888, fertilizers were annually 

 applied to some of the plats in such quantities as to supply 30 lbs. 

 per acre of phosphoric acid, potash, and nitrogen, either alone or in 

 combination. 



It was not until the fourth season that the full effect of the manures 

 upon the botanical composition of the meadow was fully apparent, and 

 the conclusions regarding the effect of manure are drawn largely from 

 the average results of the fourth, fifth, and sixth years of the experi- 

 ment. Perennial rye grass in these years constituted but a small pro 

 portion of the plants, and the action of special manures on this spe- 

 cies was not notable. Orchard grass, more abundant than any other 

 plant, required for vigorous growth a liberal supply of nitrogen, potash, 

 and phosphoric acid, its most imi)erative need being for i)hosphoric 

 acid, especially in the form of soluble phosphate. Apparently com- 

 bined sulphuric acid was favorable to its growth. Timothy was most 

 responsive to nitrogen and then to potash, the want of phosphoric 

 acid being less felt than that of the other two constituents. Dog's-tail 

 grass flourished best on the poorest plats, and it grew relatively well 

 on those well supplied with insoluble phosphates. Its shallow root 

 system probably enabled it to utilize these to a greater extent than more 

 deeply rooted grasses were able to do. In wet seasons it was relatively 

 abundant, but the proportion of dog's-tail grass to orchard grass 

 decreased very largely in hot and dry summers. Eough-stalked 

 meadow grass and Kentucky blue grass did not seem to feel the want 

 of nitrogen so much as most grasses; the latter developed a deeper 

 root system than the former. The fescue grasses showed no special 

 preference for any one fertilizing constituent. With their deep root 

 system they were less dependent than most grasses on top dressings 

 and were able to endure in a noteworthy manner the long continued 

 drought of 1893. 



After a few years the only clover growing on the plats was white 

 clover. This clover was at its best when potash was applied, and failed 

 when potash was wanting. When insoluble nitrogenous manures were 

 applied white clover was thrifty, but when soluble forms of nitrogen 

 were used the plats were deficient in clover. This plant showed no 

 special preference for any one form of phosphoric acid excejit Thomas 

 slag, the favorable effect of which was x>robably due to its content of 

 lime. 



Experiments -with oats, W. C. Latta {Indiana Sta. Bui. 50, pp. 

 53-55). — Of 7 varieties grown from 1 to 7 years. White Bonanza gave 

 the largest average yield. 



In an experiment on thickness of seeding 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 

 12 pecks of seed per acre were used; 8 pecks gave the highest average 

 yield for 8 years, but 10 pecks is recommended when oats are sown 

 among cornstalks. 



