214 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



ducted consists of weathered glacial till and is classified as typical Shelby 

 loam. "The surface soil is a very dark brown loam to fine sandy loam, 

 changing at about 10 in. to a light brown or grayish brown heavy loam faintly 

 mottled with reddish brown. The subsoil below 18 in. is a light brown or yel- 

 lowish brown stiff sandy clay, usually mottled brown and gray in the lower 

 portion. The surface soil and the lower subsoil contain more sand than the 

 middle portion of the soil section." 



The experiments were made on four series of seven plats. The fertilizer 

 treatment included the use of green manures, barnyard manure, bone meal or 

 rock phosphate, potassium chlorid, and ground limestone. The rotation prac- 

 ticed consisted of corn, oats, wheat, and clover, with cowpeas substituted when 

 clover failed. 



The results of the experiments and of chemical analysis indicate that this 

 soil is somewhat acid, is low in its supply of nitrogen, organic matter, and 

 phosphorus, and is apparently well supplied with potassium. Additions of 

 bone meal and potash brought good returns and lime brought fair returns, 

 while the use of complete fertilizers and lime nearly doubled the cost of 

 treatment. 



Specific recommendations for the management of this soil to increase its 

 productiveness are given. 



Soil experiments on the l-ed lim.estone upland of southwest Missouri, M. F. 

 Miller, C. B. Hutchison, and R. R. Hudelson (ilissoim Sta. Bill. 129 {1915), 

 pp. 403-421, figs. 5). — This is the second report on soil experiments which have 

 been previously described (E. S. R., 23, p. 21). It is stated that the most 

 marked I'eturn secured from the soil treatments given in these experiments 

 has been with phosphates, the second with potash, and the third with lime. 



A careful system of rotation including an abundance of legumes with free 

 use of phosphates and some potash is suggested as the best treatment for this 

 type of soil. " Rock phosphate may be used as a part of the phosphate ap- 

 plication where much organic matter is added to the soil. From 800 to 1,000 

 lbs. per acre may be used once in 6 to 8 years. This should be supplemented 

 with readily available phosphates and some potash, applied before wheat." 



Soil experiments on the gray prairie of southwest Missouri, M. F. Miller, 

 C. B. Hutchison, and R. R. Hudelson (Missouri Sta. Bui. 130 {1915), pp. 

 423-442, figs. 4)- — This is a second report on experiments begun in 1906 (E. S. R., 

 23, p. 20). 



The soil on which the experiments were conducted is the Cherokee silt loam, 

 which is said to be derived chiefly from a fine argillaceous shale. " It is from 

 8 to 10 in. in depth, of a gray color, and somewhat ashy in appearance. From 

 10 to IS in. in depth it is a lighter gray in color with a yellowish tinge. At 

 about 20 in. it abruptly becomes heavy and sticky and is somewhat mottled 

 with reddish brown. From 20 to 30 in. in depth this mottled plastic layer is 

 very heavy. Below 40 in. the texture is somewhat coarser. . . . The chemical 

 analysis of this soil shows it to be deficient in all the main elements of 

 fertility, particularly in nitrogen. The shortage of phosphorus and potassium 

 is distinct but not quite so marked." The soil in general is acid. The subsoil 

 contains less nitrogen and potassium and more phosphorus than the surface 

 soil and is only slightly more acid. 



The experiments were made on three series of seven i-acre plats. The ferti- 

 lizer treatment included the use of green manures, bone meal, muriate of 

 potash, and ground limstone. The rotation consisted of com, cowpeas, wheat, 

 and clover, with oats substituted for wheat and cowpeas for clover in several 

 cases. 



