32 EXPERIMENT STATION" BECOED. 



In fertilizer trials with Japanese cane results showed that " potash gave a 

 decided increase in yield; ammonia gave an increased yield; sulphate of 

 amnionia produced a little better yield on the average than did dried blood; 

 acid phosiihate apparently gave no increase in yield; sulphate of potash pro- 

 dncod a little better yield than did muriate of potash." 



[Field-crops experiments], J. B. Gabeett and F, C. Qiteeeau {Louisiana 

 Sias. Rpt. 1914, pp. 22-26, 2S-30). — ^At the North Louisiana Station it is noted 

 that in rotation experiments little difference was produced by the use of raw 

 rock phosphate at the rate of 2,700 lbs. per acre every third year and acid 

 phosphate applied at the rate of 300 lbs. per acre. " On the raw rock phosphate 

 plat 1,207 lbs. per acre of seed cotton were produced and 27.9 bu. of com, and on 

 the acid phosphate plat 1,228 lbs. of seed cotton and 27.7 bu. of com." 



Sudan grass yielded 5.43 tons of hay per acre in two cuttings on the red 

 type of soil. Of cowpeas, "the New Era, Groit, and Iron varieties produced 

 32.3, 26.35, and 20.96 bu. per acre, respectively. Two pickings were secured 

 from each of these varieties. The Whippoorwill, which is the standard variety 

 in this section, only produced 10.2 bu. per acre. Ordinarily, 10 or 12 bu. of peas 

 per acre is a good crop here." 



Yields are also reported for sorghum, feterita, Kafir corn, milo maize, ribbon 

 cane, and Japanese cane. 



In regard to fertilizer experiments with rice at Crowley, it is stated that " it 

 is likely that 16 per cent acid phosphate is our best and cheapest source of 

 phosphorus. The results of the past five years indicate that a 200-lb. per acre 

 application will give the best and the cheapest returns. Kainit when applied 

 to old rice land seems to make considerable increase in yield the first year, but 

 in succeeding years the yield is but little better than the yield on the check i^lats, 

 where no fertilizer has been used. Applications of phosphate and kainit in equal 

 parts do not make increase in yield over the plats where phosphate is used alone. 



" It is indicated by these experiments that cotton-seed meal may profitably be 

 applied to Honduras rice, but that the returns are not so great with Blue Rose 

 or Shinriki, this especially marked in the case of the former. It is not believed 

 that it is profitable to use cotton-seed meal or other nitrogenous fertilizer on 

 Blue Rose rice. Water crab srass is observed to grow on all plats fertilized 

 with acid phosphate. This was especially noticeable last year (1914). On plats 

 fertilized with kainit and where there was no fertilizer there was little if any 

 crab grass. On the phosphate plats there was a hea\'y stand of grass which 

 could not be checked with water and which caused considerable decrease in the 

 yields of rice in these plats. 



"As these results clearly indicate that phosphate promotes the growth of 

 grass as well as the growth and yield of rice, it would seem that the fertilizer 

 should be placed as close to the rice plant as possible. In other words, the fer- 

 tilizer should be placed iu the row with the seetl, but not in contact with it. In 

 this way the rice would get the benefit of the fertilizer first and would have a better 

 chance to get away from the grass. It is good practice to drain the laud fifteen 

 days from the time of the first flooding. This will check the activity of the 

 • root maggot,' and it is believed that the drying out of the land at this time is 

 a good thing for the rice. Where it is possible to do so, the land should be 

 drained twice during the irrigating season." 



Rotation trials are also summarized, the results indicating that highland 

 crops will, if continued long enough, eliminate red rice. It is believed that less 

 than a six-year rotation will not be profitable. 



Field experiiiients, C. D. Woods {Maine Sta. Bui. 236 {1915), pp. 41-51, 63, 

 64). — Yields in 1914 of variety tests of commercial varieties of oats are given 



