254 



BULLETIN No. 12. 



FiKLD EXPERIMENTS FOR 1889, J. G. Smith, B. S. (i^p. 1-63). TllO 



subjects considered are, grasses and clover — adaptability; corn — qual- 

 ity, yield, and method of cultivation; potatoes — A^arieties, yield, and 

 quality; fodder ])lants — maize, dlioura, Kaffir corn, and others; and 

 variety tests of a number of common garden vegetables. 



Grasses (pp. 1-11). — Notes on 27 varieties are given,. The results 

 of two years' experiments indicate the following grasses as the best of 

 those tested : 



For early i)asture, Kentucky blue-grass and orchard grass sown separately or 

 mixed with other grasses and cloA'ers, such as redtop. sheep fescue, meadow 

 fescue, red clover, etc. 



For later pasture, meadow fescue. English perennial rye, sheep fescue, rough- 

 stalked meadow grass, redtop, timothy, and the native grasses. 



For early hay, orchard grass, wild wheat grass, and redtop. 



For later hay, meadow fescue, English pereunial lye, rescue grass, timothy, 

 Johnson grass, and the Muhlenberg and other native grasses. 



As further experiments are made there will probably be changes in the list, 

 and the names of the other grasses not yet tried added to those given above. 



As has been noted l)y Professor Bessey and others, the so-called tame grasses 

 do not grow as well in virgin soil as on land which has been cultivated for a 

 number of years. Undoubtedly many of the attempts to grow them have failed 

 from this cause alone. The effects of a new soil and a changed climate on those 

 crops vs^hich are regarded as "sure" in the older settled States may not always 

 be favorable ; but as cultivation incieases better results will surely follow. 



Cloi'ers end other forage 'plants (pp. 11-17). — " Fifteen of the true 

 clovers and their relatives that seemed more or less j^romising last 

 3'^ear were tried again this. The best of these were red clover, alfalfa, 

 and spring tares or vetches {Vicia satira. L.)." Eed clover has now 

 been groAvn in almost every county of Nebraska, and its position as a 

 reliable forage plant for that State seems no longer doubtful. Al- 

 falfa has iteen tried in different parts of the State with varying 

 results. Cow-peas have grown well at the Station during two years. 

 Of the other forage plants experimented with, pearl millet for green 

 fodder, Kaffir corn and dhoura for early seed and fodder, and yellow 

 millo maize for large amounts of seed and fodder, are recommended. 



Potatoes (pp. 18-'25). — Tabular record of I'iO varieties tested, with 

 additional notes on a number of varieties. 



Garden regetahles (pp. 26-37). — Notes on 4 varieties of sweet 

 potatoes, 32 of beans, 31 of peas, 5 of onions. 8 of radishes, 3 of pars- 

 nips, 2 of salsify, 9 of beets, S of carrots, 12 of turnips, 4 of okra, 11 of 

 cucumbers.. 12 of musk-melons, 7 of water-melons, and 2 of pumpkins. 



Cereals (pp. 38-61). — Notes on 13 varieties of oats, 4 of wheat, 17 

 of sweet corn, 14 of pop corn, 7 of flint corn, and 21 of dent corn. 



Clover seed impurities (pp. 39^1). — An examination of clover seed 

 bought from twelve different firms was made. The number of weed 

 seeds in each 1,000 seeds examined varied from 5 to 340. If 15 

 pounds per acre of such seeds were sown, the number of weed seeds 

 planted on an acre would be from 19,000 to 1,290,000. 



