FIELD CROPS. 



537 



gated with 5 in. of water ou June 29, and on plats irrigated with total 

 amounts of water ranging from 14 to 17^ in., ajiplied every third, 

 fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth day are reported. 



The results show that the amount of water taken up by the soil did 

 not depend ui)on the frequency of irrigation, and that the largest yield 

 of merchantable potatoes was produced on the plat irrigated every 

 eighth day and receiving a total of 14 in. of water. It is suggested 

 "that a large amount of water has a tendency to cause too many 

 potatoes to set; more than the vine can support." 



The action of atmospheric electricity on the gro^vth of mangel- 

 vrurzels, turnips, oats, beans, buckwheat, and potatoes, J. W. 

 Sanborn ( Utah Sta. Rpt. 1893, -pp. 71-74). 



Synoj)sis. — Atmosplieric electricity conveyed by a network of wires 10 in. deep in 

 the soil apparently increased to a large extent tbe yield of mangel-wnrzels, 

 potatoes, oats, beans, and buckwheat, but reduced the yield of turnip roots. 



On a pole 20 ft, high was attached a wire terminating in a copper 

 brush. This wire was run beneath the ground in checks 3 ft. square 

 and at a depth of 10 in. The plat used was 2 by 4 rods, or one- 

 twentieth acre. Two rows of each of the crops were run across the 

 entire length of the plat, one end of which was wired; the other end 

 was not wired, and as it did not receive the spading made necessary 

 on the other half in laying down the wires, the 2 halves of the i)lat 

 were not strictlj' comparable. However, the author states that by the 

 use of tiling spades only narrow trenches were made ou the wired 

 portion, and that the soil was a loose, sandy loam. "It is believed that 

 the trenching was of no assistance to the growing crop" on the wired 

 end. 



The following tables give the yields: 



Influence of atmosplieric eJectricit}/ on root crops. 



Tops per acre. 



Wired. 



Not 

 wired. 



Boots per acre. 



Wired. 



ISot 

 wired. 



Increase 

 ( + ) or de- 

 crease ( — ) 



in roots. 



Long red mangel-wnrzels 



Do 



Yellow ovoid mangel-wnrzels . 

 Large white turnips , 



Do , 



Yellow Aberdeen turnips . 

 Potatoes 



Pounds. 



6,600 



9,810 



4,510 



13, 780 



10, 720 



10, 680 



Pounds. 

 3,840 

 4, 680 

 1,960 

 7,220 

 8,720 

 6,800 



Pounds. 



14, 040 

 22, 320 

 13, 72U 



15, 240 

 17, .540 



16, 340 

 '385 



Pounds. 

 10, .560 

 12, 960 

 6, 380 

 27, 500 

 17, 9G0 

 12,020 

 '350 



Per cent. 

 + 32..') 

 + 72.2 

 -H15.0 



— 59,0 



— 2.0 

 + 36.0 



