FIELD CROPS. 



721 



This is a report on rotation experiments with corn, oats, wheat, and 

 timothy and (;hjver on 4 series of 36 eighth-acre plats, commenced in 

 1881.^ All fertilizers were ai)plied annually. IsTitrogen was supiilied at 

 the rate of 24, 48, and 72 lbs. per acre in the form of dried blood, 

 nitrate of soda, or snli)hate of ammonia; also as barnyard manure, the 

 amount of nitrogen in the latter not being determined. Phosphoric 

 acid was supplied at the rate of 48 lbs. per acre in the form of dissolved 

 bone-black. Potash was furnished at the rate of 100 lbs. per acre in 

 muriate of potash. Gypsum, lime, ground limestone, and ground bone 

 were also used in a few instances. 



Tabulated data give for each plat the yields of corn, stover, oats, 

 oat straw, wheat, wheat straw, and hay for 1892 and 1893, and the aver- 

 age yields of the 12 years during which the experiment has been in 

 progress. 



The following table gives the average increase in yield of the different 

 crops during 12 years with coihplete fertilizers containing 24 lbs. per 

 acre of nitrogen in different forms, and with complete fertilizers con- 

 taining 24, 48, and 72 lbs. of nitrogen per acre: 



Average increase in yield for 12 years ivith different fertilizers. 



Timothy 

 Fertilizer.- Corn. Wlieat. Oats. and 



clover. 



Dried blood and niineraLs 



Nitrate of soda and minerals 



Sulphate of ammonia and minerals 



24 11)8. of nitrogen and minerals 



48 Ib.s. of nitrogen and minerals 



72 Iha. of nitrogen and minerals 



Barnyard manure 



Pounds. 

 -80 

 473 

 666 

 681 

 545 

 508 

 395 



Notes on plants distributed by the station, E. J. Wickson {Cali- 

 fornia Sta. Bui. 106, pp. 8, figs. 2). — Brief descriptive notes on the most 

 important plants distributed are given. Folygonum saehalinense "is 

 a coarse plant and is not advocated as a substitute for well-known forage 

 plants where the latter are satisfactory. For dry lands scant of useful 

 growth the plant is commended for trial. It has a perennial root which 

 withstands both drought and freezing of the ground.'' Australian salt 

 bush {Atriplex semibaccata) made in Tulare County a wonderful growth 

 on strongly alkaline soil. The flat pea {Lathyrus sylvestris), from reports 

 received from growers, appears to be much valued in some parts of 

 California. The following forage plants have been found the most satis, 

 factory for dry soil, but are not offered as substitutes for better plants 

 on naturally moist land: Tall oat grass [Arrhenatherum avenaceum), 

 Schrader's brome grass {Bromus u7iioloides), Hungarian brome grass 

 {B. inermis), Japanese wheat grass {Agropyrum japonicum), many-flow- 

 eriBd millet grass {Milium miiltifiorum), hairy-flowered paspalum {Pas- 

 palum dilatatum), and Texas blue grass {Poa arachnifera). 



' See also Report of the Station for 1890, p. 12-t (E. S. R., 3, p. 718). 

 14467— Ko. 8 4 



