FIELD CROPS. 



137 



parison of tlie distribution of the mesqnite with maps showing the water table 

 depths it appears that this species becomes a tree only where the ground water 

 does not lie deeper than 50 ft. 



Other observations are given on tree distribution as related to the depth of 

 perennial water in regions outside of southern Arizona. 



FIELD CROPS. 



Second annual report of Paulding' County experiment farm, C. McIntibe 

 {Ohio Sta. Bui. 25S, pp. 287-298). — This bulletin reports crop rotation and fer- 

 tilizer tests, chiefly in tabulated form. 



In a sugar beet, oats, and clover rotation fertilizers were applied to the beet 

 crop, the largest yield being 13.975 tons per acre, produced with an application 

 of 10 tons barnyard manure and 300 lbs. acid phosphate. This crop contained 

 13.6 per cent sugar, with the percentage of purity S4.S. In a cereal rotation with 

 corn, oats, wheat, and clover the largest yield of com was 70 bu. per acre, 

 produced with the use of 200 lbs. acid phosphate, but at a loss of 9 eta per acre. 

 Comparative yields which were secured at the main station at Wooster are also 

 presented. 



In a rotation of corn, soy beans, wheat, and clover in which the fertilizers 

 were applied to the soy beans, the largest yield of this crop was 22.25 bu. per 

 acre, produced with an application of 200 lbs. acid phosphate and 50 lbs. muriate 

 of potash. This crop gave a net profit of $4.03. Variety tests of corn, oats, 

 soy beans, and sugar beets are reported, with comparative data from the main 

 station. Subsoiling sugar beets to a depth of 14 in. gave very little difference 

 in yield as compared with ordinary plowing to 7 in. 



The work of the Truckee-Carson experiment farm in 1912, F. B. Headley 

 {U. 8. Dept. Agr.. Bur. Plant Indus. Circ. 122, pp. 13-23, figs. 3).— Investigations 

 have been conducted with special reference to the general lack of vegetable 

 matter in the soil, the presence of harmful quantities of alkali salts, and the 

 existence of a high water table due to surplus water from irrigation. 



In experiments with sugar beets, while large yields were not obtained, in- 

 creased yields were produced by the application of nitrate of soda, sulphate of 

 potash, acid phosi^hate, and gypsum in various combinationa Fields that had 

 previously been in alfalfa gave much greater yields of sugar beets than other 

 lands, the former ranging from 18.9 to 25.3 tons per acre, as compared with a 

 range of 3 to 10 tons on the latter. Sweet clover has been found to have a 

 useful place in the crop rotations, especially in connection with alfalfa. Of 

 12 varieties of alfalfa in I'ow tests, Grimm gave the highest yield, 131 lbs. per 

 100-ft. row, and Caucasus the second highest, 126 lbs. The yields ranged as low 

 as zero. Trials of millet, field corn, and vegetables were made, and also co- 

 operative experiments with potatoes, onions, and strawberries. 



In alkali and ground water studies it has been found that sodium carbonate, 

 sodium bicarbonate, and sodium chlorld were the alkali salts chiefly affecting 

 plant growth, as shown below : 



Percentage of alkali salts on an alfalfa plat, Truckee-Carson experiment farm. 



