132 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



The croi>i)lng methods discussed refer to winter aud spring wheat, barley, oats, 

 emmer, rye, corn, buclcwheat, alfalfa, field peas, field beans, soy beans, broad 

 beans, vetch, crimson and sweet clover, Tangier pea, grasses, sorghums, rape, 

 kale, squash, potatoes, artichokes, mangels, turnips, carrots, sugar beets, fiax, 

 cabbage, and onions. 



Fertility and crop experiments at the West Tennessee Station, C. A. Mooers 

 and S. A. Robert {Tennessee Sta. Bid. 109 {lOlJf), pp. 215-2U, fiffs. 9).— In the 

 work recorded in this bulletin two types of soil were used, described as a 

 light, brown-colored silt loam with, a yellowish-colored subsoil, and a gray- 

 colored, " crawfishy " type, with a gray subsoil. This latter described soil is 

 noted, as being very high in silt, does not drain readily, and is troublesome to 

 handle. 



It is noted that the requirements of these soils for phosphoric acid and 

 potash are very slight, and that applications of these fertilizers increased crop 

 yields but not to a profitable degree. 



In studying the effect of burnt lime and ground limestone applied at the 

 rates of 2,000 lbs. and 4,000 lbs., respectively, per acre, it was observed that 

 increased yields of corn, oats, and red clover followed the applications of lime 

 on both types of soils; that cotton and cowpeas were little influenced, fre- 

 quently being slightly injured, and that the returns from the two forms of lime 

 were very similar with the two tons of ground limestone showing slightly 

 superior. These results are given in tabular form. 



Experiments in regard to time of application of nitrate of soda showed that 

 " the results watli the corn point very definitely to the application of the nitrate 

 at an early stage of growth, the gain being greatest when the plants were 

 from 3 in. to 2 ft, high. ... In none of the three series from which the 

 averages were obtained did any increase in yield of grain result from applica- 

 tions made at tasseling time, the only api>arent effect being a deeper green 

 foliage. 



" The results of the experiments on Irish i)otatoes are of special interest, as 

 three of the four sets were made on the fine sandy loams of the Cumberland 

 Plateau, which might be expected to suffer from leaching. In practically every 

 one of the four sets nearly as good results as any were obtained when the 

 nitrate was mixed with the phosphate and potash applied in the row before 

 planting. This was rather unexpected, for the rainfall at this time of the 

 year is heavy, so that loss of nitrate would be looked for. The results from 

 applying one-half of the nitrate as a top-dressing when the plants were just 

 coming up, and the balance in ten days or two weeks, were unfavorable to this 

 method. As with the corn, the results are, thei-efore, decidedly in favor of 

 an early application." 



In testing nonlegumes and legumes as green manure the results obtained 

 showed nonlegumes other than rye to be unsatisfactory, while legumes con- 

 tinued to improve the soil fertility year after year. 



Notes are given on the seeding and fertilization of alfalfa, red, alsike. crim- 

 son, Japan, and sweet clovers, soy beans, grasses, cotton, corn, wheat, oats, 

 barley, rye, and sorghum. A guide to the establishment of a rotation is shown 

 and the different i>hases of it are discussed. 



Variety tests on moor, marsh, and flooded soils, F. Brune (Jahrb. Dent. 

 Landxo. GcsclL, 29 {1914), A^o. 2, pp. S.5i-J?7).— This paper gives results of 

 testing the crops bred and grown on these types of soils as compared with crops 

 grown from seed raised on ordinary soils. These results, obtained with cereals, 

 potatoes, field beans, and mangels, and given in tabular form, have led the 

 author to note a wide field of possibilities in th^ breeding of crops acclimatized 



