322 " EXPERIMENT STATION KECORD. [Vol. 43 



Fertility program for a 160-acre farm, C. E. Thobne (Mo. Bui. Ohio Sta., 

 5 {1920), No. 4, pp. 99-106, fly. 1; also in Amer. Pert., 52 (1920), No. 5i, pp. 7J- 

 76). — The author I'eviews a number of rotation fertilizer esporinients con- 

 ducted by the station with the purpose of outlining a fertility iirogram for a 

 farm in Ohio. 



Experiments on four quite different soils in various localities of the State, 

 including fine silt loam and clay loam, are taken to justify the assumption that 

 if the applications of fertilizers were inci*eased to the average annual dressing 

 of acid phosphate as used on these soils, viz, 80 lbs. per aci*e, or 50 lbs, more 

 than is now used, the annual produce would be increased to a total annual 

 value of $34.50 per acre on the basis of average production figures for the 

 State of Ohio for 10 years of $29.50 per acre. In the case of a tenant it is 

 considered fair for the landlord to pay half the cost of the fertilizer, the ten- 

 ant performing all of the labor, as the experiments show that at least one- 

 third of the eifect of a fertilizer application is realized in following crops. The 

 most effective chemical fertilizer in proportion to cost that was used in these 

 experiments was on clay loam soil, and is equivalent to an annual dressing 

 per acre of 53 lbs. of sodium nitrate, 160 lbs. of acid phosphate, and 13 lbs. of 

 potassium chlorid. The average yield from this treatment has had an annual 

 value of $42 per acre. 



Comparative experiments with barnyard manure applied at a rate equiva- 

 lent to an annual dressing of 2| tons per acre showed that the use of the 

 manure brought the yield up to an annual value of $48 per acre. When the 

 same dressing of manure was reinforced with 107 lbs. of acid phosphate, the 

 value of the annual yield rose to $54.80, and when the reinforced manure was 

 spread dii'ect from the stable, the average yield had an annual value of $.57.80. 



Corresponding data from tests on 10-acre fields ai*e reported, and the profits 

 of live-stock farming are discussed. 



Soil fertility experiments (North Dakota Sta. Bui. 136 (1920) pp. 9, 10).— 

 Progress data from projects operating since 1912 and designed to determine 

 systems of agriculture which will maintain soil fertility under Red River Val- 

 ley conditions are reported. The trials consist of comparisons of live-stock 

 farming systems with cash-crop farming systems. The only fertilizer that has 

 returned a reasonable profit has been phosphorus on potatoes. 



Facts concerning meadow fertility, M. A. Bachtell (Mo. Bui. Ohio Sta,., 

 5 (1920), No. Jt, pp. 121-12Jf, fig. 1). — The effect of the proper use of fertilizers 

 upon the fertility of meadow soils and subsoils is discussed. 



" In view of the far-reaching influence of the quality of meadows it is inter- 

 esting to note that both the character of herbage and its mineral composition 

 may be influenced through fertilization of the soil." 



The nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash contents of oats and their 

 relation to increased yields produced by fertilization, T. Pfeiffek, W. Sim- 

 MERMACHEE, and A. RiPPEL (Jour. LandiD., 67 (1919), No. 1-2, pp. 1-57, figs. 6; 

 abs. in Zentbl. Agr. Chem., 49 (1920), No. 1, pp. 1-8). — Experiments on a sand 

 soil with oats are reported, from which data were obtained on the yields re- 

 sulting from increasing additions of the three main plant nutrients under 

 different conditions, together with data on the content of the harvested plant 

 materials in the nutritive constituents. Special attention was paid to the 

 influence of excessive and moderate moisture additions and light. 



In the nitrogen tests the percentage content of nitrogen in the dry matter 

 of the plant increased with the size of the nitrogen addition. In several 

 cases, however, the plants without nitrogen treatment contained more nitrogen 

 than those receiving the smallest nitrogen addition. The higher nitrogen con- 



