FIELD CROPS. 803 



Conch failed to ripen seed, but the Black cowpea yielded at the rate of 

 25 bu. of seed per acre when fertilized with muriate of potash. Heavy 

 seeding of cowpeas, by using all the tubes of a grain drill, is recom- 

 mended, 



Italian rye grass sown with crimson clover produced sufficient seed 

 after the first cutting to reseed the land. 



Crimson clover straw moistened with water which had been sweet- 

 ened with low-grade molasses was successfully used as a substitute for 

 hay in feeding cows. 



The yield of wheat was largely increased by plowing under a crop of 

 crimson clover in May and a crop of cowpeas in Seiitember. 



Experiments ^vith oats, G. Liebsgher [Jalirh. deut. landw. Ges., 

 9 {1894). pp. 453-510). — These experiments with varieties extended 

 over 5 years and were conducted in numerous localities in Germany. 

 On averaging the yields for 5 years of a number of varieties grown on 

 different classes of soils, it was found that whenever a variety was 

 productive as compared with other varieties on one class of soil it was 

 relatively productive on all other soils. The author states that there 

 is no foundation for the claim that one variety ranks high in yield on 

 one class of soils but low on another. 



However, when a variety was originated and the seed grown on one 

 kind of soil it proved more productive (relative to other varieties) on 

 similar soil than on tbat of a different character. On light soil seed 

 grown on light soil was more productive than seed grown on heavy 

 soil. Seed grown on heavy soil showed a preference for heavy soil. 



Varieties originating in a region with a continental climate were 

 most successfully grown in a similar climate; those originating in a 

 marine climate were most productive under similar climatic conditions. 



As in previous years varieties did not differ in their percentages of 

 nitrogen and phosphoric acid; these percentages, however, were influ- 

 enced by the character of the soil on which the crop was grown, by the 

 fertilizers used, and by the weather. 



Peanuts, culture and uses, R. B. Handy ( U.S. Dept.Agr., Farmers^ 

 Bui. 25, pp. 21). — The following subjects are treated: Description and 

 history, composition, with analyses of food and fertilizing constituents 

 in different parts of the plant, varieties, climate and soil adapted to 

 the peanut, manuring, preparation of the land, selection of seed, plant- 

 ing, tillage, harvesting, and uses. A crop of 00 bu. (1,380 lbs.) of pea- 

 nuts, together with 2,000 lbs. of hay, total 3,380 lbs., is estimated to 

 contain 84,71 lbs. of nitrogen, 14.80 lbs. of j^hosphoric acid, 32.30 lbs. 

 of potash, and 46.30 lbs. of lime. If the soil for peanuts does not con- 

 tain lime this should be applied as a fertilizer, together with phosphoric 

 acid and potash. A rotation suggested for i)eanuts is as follows: 

 Peanuts, followed in the fall by winter rye or oats, and the next sum- 

 mer the land sown to crimson clover, to be followed the next year by 

 peajiuts again, so that every other year peanuts will be the crop. Care 



