t'lELD CEOPS. 331 



as heavy a crop of potatoes as does farmyard manure; muriate of potash gen- 

 erally hns less effect when used with seaweed than when applied with dung; 

 seaweed gives the best results on light soils and possibly in a dry season." 



The advantage of allowing potatoes to sprout before planting was shown in 

 increased yields of aiiproximately 2 tons per acre. Experiments to note the 

 effect of change of seed potatoes r.re noted as in progress. 



With mangels the most satisfactory results were obtained by the use of 400 

 lbs. superphosphate, 200 lbs. sulphate of ammonia, and 400 lbs. salt. In manurial 

 tests with oats the application of sulphate of ammonia alone and superphos- 

 phate alone gave results which, while variable, proved on the whole to be 

 profitable. The two applied together were more satisfactory. A complete fer- 

 tilizer gave the best results. 



The following conclusions are given as results of manurial tests with turnips : 

 "Though good crops of turnips may be giown with farmyard manure alone, it 

 is not economical to apply heavy dressings. A medium dressing of farmyard 

 manure, say, from 10 to 15 tons per statute acre, supplemented by superphos- 

 phate or basic slag, is better than a heavy dressing of dung alone. 



" Of the three kinds of artificial manures, nitrogenous, phosphatic, and 

 potassic, phosphatic manures alone materially increased the yield. When a 

 medium dressing of dung supplemented by superphosphate or basic slag is used, 

 it is very doubtful whether the addition of either sulphate of ammonia or 

 kainit, or both, will pay. But when no dung is used it is advisable to apply 

 these manures along with superphosphate or basic slag. The use of a com- 

 plete mixture has one decided advantage, inasmuch as a fnore even braird is 

 obtained, the plants are stimulated in their early growth, and consequently 

 suffer less injury from attacks of the turnip fly. 



" Supeiphosphate and basic slag are practically of equal value as manures for 

 turnips. The question as to which should be used to supplement dung must be 

 decided by local circumstances, but where the land is deficient in lime or where 

 the disease finger and toe is prevalent, basic slag should undoubtedly be applied. 

 As much as 6 cwt. per statute acre of either manure may be used with satis- 

 factory results. Especially is this the case when no farmyard manure is applied. 



"Under ordinary conditions the following manurial dressings may be 

 thoroughly relied upon to give satisfactory results: A medium dressing, from 

 10 to 15 tons, of farmyard manure supplemented with from 4 to 6 cwt. of super- 

 phosphate or basic slag, per statute acre; or the following dressing of artificials 

 used without farmyard manure, 4 to 6 cwt. of superphosphate or basic slag, 

 1 cwt. sulphate of ammonia, 3 cwt. kainit, per statute acre. Basic slag must 

 on no account be mixed with sulphate of ammonia." 



[Field-crop studies] (Wisco7isin 8ta. Bui. 250 {1915), pp. 17, 18, 19, 20, 23- 

 28, figs. Jt). — Tills refers briefly to the work of E. B. Fred, which has shown an 

 injurious effect of green manures upon the germination of cotton, flax, soy 

 beans, hemp, mustard, and lupines, apparently caused by the type of organisms 

 connected with such soil treatment (E. S. R., 28, p. 816). An increase of 20 per 

 cent in the clover crop where sulphates were used is reported by W. E. Totting- 

 ham. 



Breeding tests with peas, wheat, barley, oats, tobacco, corn, and soy beans are 

 briefly reported. 



[Breeding' experiments with cereals], A. N. Hume (South Dakota Sta. Rpt. 

 1913, pp. 24-31). — This briefly gives results of selecting seed corn from plants 

 bearing ears high above the ground and those bearing ears low, which show 

 that there is some positive correlation between height of ear and yield. The 

 higher growing ears indicate higher yielding strains of corn, but these are 



