440 EXPERIMENT STATION BECOBD, [Vol.87 



[Alfalfa], L. F. Gbabeb and A. C. Johnson {Ann. Rpt. Wis. Agr. Expt. 

 Assoc, 14 (1916), pp. 68-88, pis. 2). — According to the secretary's report at the 

 fourth annual meeting of the Alfalfa Order of the Wisconsin Agricultural Ex- 

 periment Association, out of 487 reports recelvetl from 796 farmers to whom 

 alfalfa seed was distributed in the spring of 1914, 81 per cent reported good 

 or fair success. Of the 19 per cent which reported poor stands or failures, the 

 reasons given Included lack of lime, lack of Inoculation, poorly drained flat land, 

 nurse crop too thick, early spring freezing and thawing, land of poor fertility, 

 weeds and poor preparation of seed bed, crowded out by blue grass, drought 

 after nurse crop was harvested, lack of snow covering, loose seed bed due to 

 late spring plowing, and late fall cutting or pasturing. 



Fiel|J experiments Indicated that a 20-lb. rate of see<llng gives the best re- 

 sults. There was no appreciable difference In winterkilling between southwest- 

 ern- and northern-grown seed. 



General notes on alfalfa production In Wisconsin are given, as well as statis- 

 tics by A. C. Johnson concerning alfalfa in South Dakota. 



Bermuda grass, S. M. Tracy (U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. Sli (1917), 

 pp. 19. figs. 2). — The characteristics, adaptations, and uses of Bermuda grass 

 in the South are discussed, including cultural directions and analyses. 



Bermuda grass Is said to compare favorably with timothy in feeding value, 

 although its market value is usually less. Notes are given on the eradication 

 of Bermuda grass by freezing the " roots," or by growing a winter smother 

 crop of oats or rye followed by a summer crop of cowpeas or velvet beans. 



Irrigation and manuring studies. — II, The eCfect of varying quantities of 

 irrigation water and manure on the growth and yield of com, F. S. Uabbis 

 and D. W. FrrrMAN (Utah Sta. Bui. 154 (1917), pp. S-29, figs. 14).— lu con- 

 tinuation of work previously noted (11. S. 11.. 31, p. 428), the results of Irriga- 

 tion and manuring experiments with corn are reported for the six-year period 

 of 1911 to 1016. inclusive. In addition to the material discussed In the previous 

 report, data on the composition of corn as affected by the irrigation and manu- 

 rlal treatments are presented for the first time. Detailed tabulated data 

 regarding the crop are given for each treatment during the six years^ of the 

 experiment 



The highest average yield of grain, 84.8 bu. per acre, was obtained with 

 20 in. of water, and the highest average yield of stover, 3.943 tons, with 30 In. 

 With 40 In. of water the average yields were 79.2 bu. of grain and 3.817 tons 

 of stover per acre, a decided decrease resulting In a waste of water and loss of 

 time. The value of an acre-Inch of water for applications of 5, 10, 20, 30, and 

 40 In. was $1.90, $0.87, $0.69. $0.42, and $0.24. respectively, for each acre-Inch. 



Manure applied at the rate of 5 tons per acre showed an Increased crop value 

 of $3.57 for each ton of manure. When applied at the rate of 15 tons per acre, 

 the increased crop value was $1.56 for each ton. These estimates do not take 

 Into account the cost of handling the increased crops produced by the different 

 appl.^ationa. 



The Influence of irrigation and manure on the yield of shelled grain, cobs, 

 husks, stalks, leaves, and the percentage of each part Is discussed In detail 

 The greatest yield of grain, cobs, and leaves was produced with 20 In. of water, 

 while the yield of stalks was highest with 30 In., and of husks with 40 In. The 

 yield of all parts was decidedly Increased by manure, but not all In the same 

 proportion. The amount of grain In proportion to the other plant parts was 

 slightly decreased by manure, while the proportion of stalks was decidedly In- 

 creased. Neither the size of the kernels nor the weight of a measured bushel 

 of grain was greatly affected by the irrigation treatments. Manure, however, 

 increased both the weight of the Individual kernels and of a bushel of grain. 



