328 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



Observations have been made of different types of cotton to ascertain their 

 relative value when grown as ratoon crop. The results are said to indicate 

 that the upland varieties are more likely to produce a ratoon crop than are 

 the Egyptian varieties, and that cotton plants generally die before or Boon after 

 being cut back for a second ratoon crop. Variety tests with cotton included 

 three types of Egyptian grown in Hawaii, Arizona, and Guam, and two up- 

 land types, Hartsville and Covington-Toole, grown in Guam. Yields of seed 

 cotton were obtained amounting to 921.8, S72.6, 823.4, 974.4, and 7S7.G lbs. per 

 acre, respectively. 



Work with rice was a failure due to Insufficient moisture and high winds 

 which blasted the crops at blossoming time. Data obtained during the past two 

 years with regard to the est of producing rice showed an average coal of 

 $22.50 per acre. 



A number of leguminous cover crops have been tested, the most promising 

 of which are velvet beans, jack beans, and pigeon peas, Gowpeas matured In 

 about 80 days, but the yields were small and the growth of vine Insufficient 

 to cover the ground. Velvet beans have produced from to 14.3 bu. of seed 

 per acre and as high as 7.3 tons of green forage, and remained on the ground 

 for several months, covering it completely. The jack bean matures earlier 

 than the velvet bean and shades the ground fairly well, but its woody growth 

 renders the plant difficult to work into the soil. 



In tests with alfalfa, one plat In an apparently well-drained location died out 

 after the heavy rains had continued for some time. All uninoculated plats were 

 much slower in growth than the Inoculated plats. 



The use of arsenic sprays In weed eradication proved effective against the 

 aboveground portions of the plants but did nol kill the roots. Under local con- 

 ditions the practice is deemed less effective and more expenisve than hand 

 labor. 



A brief report is presented on mechanical and chemical analyses of soil s 

 pies taken from the north end Of the Island and analyzed by the Bureau of 

 Soils of the U. S. Departmenl of Agriculture. The outstanding features were 

 the extremely low silica content, high iron and aluminum content, and rela- 

 tively high phosphoric-acid content. 



IReport of field crops in Iowa, 1917] (IOiOQ 3ta. Rpt. 1911, pp. t8, /■". 

 23). — This describes the continuation of work along tin' same general lines as 

 previously noted (E. S. R., 37, p. 30). 



Cooperative tests made by 04 farmers with Iowa 302 corn resulted In an 

 average increase in yield of 3.3 bu. per acre over the local varieties. Iowa 

 in.", oats grown by 105 farmers and Iowa 105 oats grown by 7.". farmers pro- 

 duced average yields of 48 and 51.3 bu. per acre, respectively, as compared 

 with 43 and 47.3 bu. for the local sorts. A superior variety of barley .urow n 

 in comparison with oats produced 1,419 lhs. or 1,206 lhs. of feed without the 

 hulls, while the oats produced 1,890 lhs. of whole grain or !»:;7 lhs. of fe <i. 



In tests with soy Leans to determine the need of inoculation, about two-thirds 

 of those reporting noted an increase in vigor and in yield from inoculation. 

 Red clover and alfalfa grown under identical conditions by 28 farmers resulted 

 generally in better stands of red clover than of alfalfa. Beneficial results 

 from inoculation and the use of lime were also noted In most Lnstan 



Sudan grass as compared With millet gave larger yields and a hotter quality 

 of forage. 



American varieties of alfalfa, such as Grimm, Baltic, or common, are deemed 

 superior to imported varieties for Iowa conditions. Seed from the Pakotas 

 and Montana is said to have shown little superiority over seed obtained from 



