191 



the use of other fe(>(liiio- stuffs. The advantages of alfalfa for Colo- 

 rado and the Avhole arid I'egion are thus summarized : 



"(1) It is easy to secure a hue stand of plants, if the soil be put in 

 proper condition. 



"(2) Its stayinir (lualities are <»ood, as the oldest fiehls show no dim- 

 inution in growth or yield ; neither does it kill b}' A-rinter exposure, if 

 given the least care and irrigation at the proper time. 



'•(3) The quantity i)roduced by the many cuttings makes it much 

 more valuable than the other clovers or grasses. 



"(4) It is as digestible as clover hay, constituent by constituent. 



"(5) Its chemical composition shows that it is a rich, strong food, 

 when properly cured. 



"(6) It is relished by all farm animals and is an excellent flesh and 

 milk producer. 



'• In general, it has about all the good qualities of a forage plant, 

 with very few poor ones.'' 



BULLETIN No. 9. OCTOBER, 1.S89. 



Soils and alkali, D. O'Brine, D. Sc. (pp. 3-27). — This article, 

 which is rather popular in form and substantially correct in its prac- 

 tical conclusions, though not entirely accurate in its scientific details, 

 contains general statements regarding the origin and physical and 

 chemical properties of soils: analyses of eleven samples of Colorado 

 soils; a discussion of the " aklali soils of Colorado;" analyses of 

 samples of alkali from a farm near Fort Collins, and of samples of 

 river, seepage, well, reservoir, and lake waters; and inferences regard- 

 ing waters for irrigation. The danger of injuring the soil by irrigat- 

 ing with water highly charged with alkaline salts is emphasized. 



CONNECTICUT. 



The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. 

 Locution. New Haven. Diivctnr. Sninuel W. .Johnson. M. A. 



BULLETIN No. 100, SEPTEMBER. 1889. 



Sylvanit, unleacieed ^\■()OI) ashes, and commercial fertilizers 

 (pp. 1-28). — This bulletin contains: (1) An analysis of sylvanit, a 

 German potash salt: (2) analyses of unleached wood ashes, with data 

 i-egarding their average composition and notes on their agricultural 

 use; (3) analyses and valuations of TO commercial mixed fertilizers — 

 nitrogenous superphosphates, guanos, and special manure.s— from 

 about 580 samples collected Iw the Station agents, in April and May, 

 1880, from the stock's of dealers in 127 towns and villages in different 

 parts of the State. 



The following lu-ief and clear summary is taken from the bulletin: 



" 1. Sylvanit is a potash salt containing more potash than kainit, 



and consists of sulphates and nuiriates of potash and soda, the muri- 



