332 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The clovers were found to contain large quantities of lime and magnesia, 

 the grasses of silica and potash, while both classes of plants were fairly uni- 

 form in phosphoric acid. Both grasses and clovers showed a lower content of 

 Si02, CaO, MgO, K2O, and I^Ob in the straw than in the hay. The ratio of 

 MgO : CaO is given as 1 : 32 for the grasses and as 1 : 7.1 for the clovers. Tabu- 

 lated analyses showing the content of ash, crude fat, protein, amid substances, 

 invert sugar, free pentosan, cutin-free pectocellulose, and cutin, are given. 



Green manuring and cover crops, W. P. Bkooks {Massachusetts Sta. Circ. 

 87 {WUf), pp. 6). — This circular attempts to indicate briefly the possible benefits 

 from the use of green manure and cover crops, and the principal reasons there- 

 for, and to consider the special characteristics, value, and adaptation of each 

 of the following crops : Winter rye, buckwheat, white mustard, rape, vetches, 

 field peas, crimson clover, red clover, sweet clover, soy beans, and cowpeas. 



The conditions under which green manuring would be advisable are briefly 

 discussed. 



The work of the San Antonio experiment farm in 1913, S. H. Hastings 

 (U. S. Dept. Ag>\, Bur. Plant Iniiis., Work San Antonio Expt. Farm, 1913, 

 pp. 1-9, 11-15, figs. 3). — This reports continued work in rotation and tillage 

 experiments conducted at the San Antonio, Tex., experiment farm previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 29, p. 31). 



It is noted that on account of the favorable results obtained with Dwarf mllo 

 maize, it has been introduced into several rotations instead of corn. Four 

 years' experience has shown the undesirability of growing cowpeas as a summer 

 crop after oats or corn, on account of summer drought. Field peas (Canada) 

 are shown to have been a highly satisfactory winter cover crop and green ma- 

 nure. It is mentioned that Sudan grass has been introduced into a 3-yeai' 

 rotation. The yields of crops in rotation are noted as being generally high for 

 1913 and uniformly higher than when the same kind of crops have been grown 

 continuously on the same land. Results from subsoiling are noted as having 

 been indifferent or negative and fallowing gave results similar to previous 

 years. 



In the experiments on the spacing of cotton plants, it is observed that " closer 

 spacing of the plants in the row lias been adopted in the field plantings at the 

 station, with results which seem to justify the more extensive use of this 

 method in the section. The distance apart which the plants have heretofore 

 been spaced was 24 in., but this distance has been reduced to 12 in. or less." 



In experiments on the spacing of milo maize, it was found that spacing had 

 compartively little effect on the yields, but the highest yields were obtained 

 from relatively close spacing. The most important effect of spacing was the 

 decreased number of heads and of tillers per plant when the plants were rela- 

 tively close together within the row. " The benefit derived from having few 

 tillers lies in the fact that few tillers favor early and uniform maturity. On 

 June 28, when 90 per cent of the heads on the close-spaced plants (those left 

 unthinned and those thinned to 2 in.) were ripe, less than 70 per cent of the 

 heads on the wider spaced plants had reached maturity. Early and uniform 

 maturity lessens the danger of damage by the sorghum midge, and the results 

 obtained in 1913 strongly indicate that closer spacing than has usually been 

 practiced will result in earlier and more uniform maturity." 



Results of variety tests with cotton, grain sorghums, and corn, are also given. 



The work of the Umatilla reclamation project experiment farm in 1913, 

 R. W. Allen {U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus., Work Umatilla Expt. Farm, 

 1913, pp. 1-5, 9, 10-12, 13, 14, figs. 2). — This publication gives an account of the 

 work carried on jointly by the Oregon Station and this Department at the 



