FIELD CROPS. 631 



A list is given of 70 selections of alfalf:! derived from 21 sources covering 

 17 countries. ;is well as hny yields of alfalfa, brome grass, orcliard grass, oat 

 grass, and timothy. 



Forage crops, E. G. Ritzman {Porto Rico Sta. Rpt. 1912, pp. 43, 44). — Tliis 

 paper reports results of trials of various introduced varieties of corn, sorghum, 

 grasses, and legumes for forage purposes. 



An African variety of sorghum (B. P. I. 25341), maturing in 100 days and 

 yielding forage at the rate of 30 tons per acre, was the most promising, while 

 Early Orange sorghum yielded second highest, viz, 11 tons per acre. Rape 

 promised to be a successful forage crop for sheep, goats, and pigs. Both 

 Paspalum dilatatum and Rhodes grass have been successful on low lands. 

 Brown teff (Eragrostis abysinica) and molasses grass (Mcliiiis minutiflora) 

 were successful, especially the latter. Pearl millet produced over 14 tons per 

 acre, while hairy vetch was a failure. Alfalfa on limed land (1,500 lbs. lime per 

 acre) yielded at the rate of 4 tons per acre at 3 months from seeding, and with 

 additional lime (1,200 lbs. per acre) yielded 6 tons at the second cutting 3 

 months later. Crimson clover proved to be a failure. Stizolobium bean pro- 

 duced an immense crop of fodder. Cowpeas and sword beans were successful, 

 but soy beans were a failure. 



Experiments with legumes and grasses, H. Dammann {Rev. Inst. Agron. 

 Montevideo, 1910, No. 7, pp. 201-212). — The following legumes and grasses, 

 Mcdicago sativa, Trifolium pratense, T. repens, T. hybridum, Lolium italicum, 

 L. perenne, Avena elatior, Phleum pratense. Dactylis glomerata, Festuca pra- 

 tensis, Poa pratensis, and Agrostis vulgaris were grown. Alfalfa yielded 4,501 

 kg. of hay and Trifolium hpbridum 3,047 kg. per hectare as the highest of the 

 legumes during the first year; Dactylis glomerata 6,988 kg., Averm elatior 6,994 

 kg., and Agrostis vulgaris 5,060 kg. hay per hectare during the first year as 

 heaviest among the grasses. Mixtures of these legumes and grasses are also 

 discussed. 



Irrigation experiments at Koppenhof, E. Krxjger {Mitt. Kaiser Wilhelms 

 Inst. Landw. Bromberg, 5 {1913), No. 3, pp. 186-196, pi. 1, figs. 6).— These 

 experiments were carried out with winter rye, lupines, and hay. 



In the rye experiment the fertilizers applied per hectare consisted of 60 kg. 

 potash in kainit, 30 kg. phosphoric acid in Thomas slag, 20 kg. nitrogen in 

 ammonium sulphate as a fall application, and 15 kg. nitrogen in nitrate of soda 

 in the spring. Seeding was at the rate of 140 kg. per hectare. A profitable 

 yield of rye was produced with the fertilizer alone, but a larger yield followed 

 the fertilizer without irrigation but harrowed twice. With irrigation without 

 fertilizer the yield was increased considerably over the check plat, likewise with 

 light irrigation plus fertilizer, but not to the extent as with harrowing and 

 fertilizers. Heavy irrigation and fertilizer were followed by the largest yield 

 of any treatment, 1,890 kg. grain per hectare in comparison with 780 kg. on 

 the check plat. 



In the lupine experiment the fertilizer per hectare consisted of 80 kg. 

 potash in kainit and 30 kg. phosphoric acid in Thomas slag. The seeding was 

 at the rate of 240 kg. per hectare. With fertilizer alone the yield was ])rac- 

 tically doubled, while with the additional use of small quantities of water it 

 was raised to 1,240 kg. and with heavy irrigation to 1,410 kg. per hectare. 



In the hay experiment the fertilizer applied per hectare consisted of 180 

 kg. potash in 40 per cent potash salt, 60 kg. phosphoric acid in Thomas slag, 

 20 kg. nitrogen in ammonium sulphate in April, and 30 kg. nitrogen in nitrate of 

 soda in May and July. Cuttings were made June 27 and September 26. With 

 the light irrigation the yield of hay increased from 2,830 to 4,520 kg. per hec- 



