528 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vegetative regeneration of alfalfa, O. T. Wilson {Science, n. ser., 42 (1915), 

 No. 1073, pp. 126, 127). — This article reports the vegetative growth of cuttings 

 from alfalfa plants when these cuttings were left on the moist soil of experi- 

 mental pots in the greenhouse. "After a week it was found that fragments 

 of several descriptions [portions of stems, portions of petioles, petioles with 

 blades attached, leaflets without petioles attached, and portions of the leaf 

 blade] had rooted firmly and were developing into healthy shoots." 



Experiments with com in 1914, Y. Svishchev and B. Aksenov (Bezenchuk. 

 SelsJc. KIioz. Opytn. Stants'iia, No. 61 il9H). pp. 6). — ^This records variety tests 

 with maize and shows that in general the local varieties produced greater 

 quantities of dry matter per acre than the imported American varieties. The 

 use of manure was found to be unprofitable. In general the use of listers gave 

 better 3aelds than did corn planters. 



Soil moisture and tillage for corn, J. G. Mosieb and A. F. Gustapson {Illi- 

 nois Sta. Bui. 181 {1915), pp. 563-586, figs. 7).— This bulletin contains data 

 compiled from results of experiments conducted in Illinois and in several other 

 States in cultivating the corn crop on various kinds of soil. These data have 

 been so edited as to develop principles that should be observed in order to 

 secure the best results in the production of corn, and are summarized as 

 follows : 



"A deep, well-prepared seed bed is essential for aeration, proper root develop- 

 ment, and conservation of moisture. It gave a gain of 14.5 bu. ($7.2.5 at 50 cts.) 

 per acre over no seed bed. Killing weeds is the most important factor in culti- 

 vating corn on brown silt loam. No weeds gave an increase over weeds of 3S.6 

 bu. of corn, a gain of $19.30 per acre. Weeds reduce the yield of corn more by 

 robbing it of plant food and light than by depriving it of moisture. Irrigation 

 on a weed plat gave an increase of only 3.8 bu. As an average of 16 tests in 

 eight years, killing weeds without cultivation produced a gain of 17.1 per cent, 

 or 6.7 bu. per acre, over ordinary cultivation. Three-fourths of the corn roots 

 are in the plowed soil, and as plants develop no unnecessary roots, any injury 

 to them results in a lower yield. Four-inch pruning six inches from the hill 

 reduced the yield 16.9 bu. The cultivated soil, especially in periods of drought, 

 is too loose and dry for proper root development ; consequently the plant is de- 

 prived of the food which it contains. After the roots are well distributed 

 through the soil little moisture can escape, even from uncultivated land. 



" On gray silt loam on tight clay in southern Illinois, as a three-year avcrnge, 

 preparation of seed bed gave an increase of 21.5 bu. ; killing weeds by scraping 

 with a hoe gave a gain of 21 bu. over allowing them to grow ; and fertilization 

 gave an increase of 14.2 bu. Ordinary shallow cultivation gave a yield of 31.2 

 bu. per acre, while killing weeds without stirring the surface gave 31.5 bu. 



" The proper type of cultivation is deep enough to kill the weeds but shallow 

 enough to reduce I'oot injury to the minimum. On Illinois soils a good seed 

 bed, killing weeds, and soil enrichment are the important factors in growing 

 corn. Cultivation is beneficial for aeration of heavy soils, clays, and clay 

 loams. Cultivation raises soil temperature early in the season and lowers it 

 later. Subsoiling on gray silt loam on tight clay at Odin caused a decrease of 

 2.7 bu. per acre. 



" Results of deep-tilling tests so far conducted by this station do not warrant 

 recommending the purchase and use of deep-tilling machines in this State." 



Tests of varieties of corn, W. E. Hanger {Maryland Sta. Bui. 190 {1915), pp. 

 181-202, pU. 9). — This bulletin gives results of tests of varieties of corn grown 

 at the station and by farmers in different sections of the State. 



During the years 1903 to 1914, inclusive, the yields at the station ranged 

 from 31.68 to 86.18 bu. of grain per acre. The highest average yield, 70.36 bu. 



