1020] FIELD CROPS. 533 



Tlie avprage 1019 yields of ratooii crops of the varieties D G25, D 118, and 

 D 145 were ID, 17.1, and 15.0 tons of cane per acre, respectively. Where 

 tlie tlirtH! varieties received tlrt'ssiiiKs of 12U0, 8(X», 4U0, and 500 lljs. of sulphate 

 of anunonia and 375 li)s. of nitrate of soda, the acre yields amounted to 

 15.5, 1S.8, 22.8, 22.8, and 15.;? tons of cane lespectively, as compared with 

 11. G tons for the unfertilized clu'clc. Applications of rice straw at the rate 

 of 25.000 llis. per acre resulted in an averajje yield of 19.5 tons as compared 

 with 15 tons without the mulch. Without rice straw the same varieties gave 

 averaf,'e yields of 9 tons of cane per acre without fertilizer, 9 with ix»tash aloue, 

 18 with sulphate of anunonia alone, 15.7 with itolash and sulphate of ammonia, 

 and 18.3 with i)otash and nitrate of soda. With aitplications of rice straw 

 tlH' yields of the variously treatetl plats amounted to 12.5, 16.1, 21.3, 19.G, and 

 22.5 tons respectively. The henelicial eft'ects of rice straw are considered to 

 be due to direct manurial action, improvement of tilth, and the inhibition of 

 weed development, especially those of the order Oramiuje. 



Tobacco experiments [19 15], W. Fkeak, O. Olson, and H. K. Kkaybill 

 {Pennsylvania Uta. RiA. 19 JG, pp. 455-Jt80, pis. 5, figs. 2). — Continuing work pre- 

 viously hoted (E. S. li., 38, p. 3G), further improvement of Pennsylvania 

 Seedleaf (Broadleaf), varieties of cigar tobacco by selection, fertilizer experi- 

 ments, adaptation studies on Clinton and Lycoming County soils, spacing and 

 lopping experiments, and seedbeil studies are rep<n"ted for 1915. The work 

 was in coo|)eration witli the Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture. Tabulated data are presented on plant niea.surements, yields, 

 and leaf quality. 



Unfavorable weather conditions depressed the average acre yields of the seed- 

 leaf selections in 1915 to but 69 per cent of those of the previous year. The 

 average yields of three single line selections of each strain were as follows: 

 Slaughter, 1,905 lbs. ; Hostetter, 1,498 lbs. ; Espenshade, 1,715 lbs. ; Cooper, 

 1,521 lb.s. ; and Hoffman, 1,455 lbs ; with extreme differences in yields between 

 the different selections of each strain of 370, 275, 3G5, 370, and 276 lbs. The 

 differences in tyi)e yields shown by the average for the five strains were 327.6 

 lbs. in 1915 as compared with 294.3 lbs. in 1914, the differences for Slaughter and 

 Hostetter being reduced, increased for Esijeushade and Cooper, and but little 

 changed for Hoffman. Analyses of the relative type yields are held to show 

 the varieties most productive in 1914 retained their superiority in the un- 

 favorable conditions of 1915. Cigar tests of the leaf produced by the different 

 strains studied resulted in scores ranging from 79 to 80.25 for Slaughter, 

 73.25 to 74.25 for Hostetter, 72.25 to 74.5 for Espenshade, 74.6 to 75.25 for 

 Cooper, and 68.25 to 70.25 for Hoffman. It was observed that in the same 

 strain the types varied but little, save in fire-holding capacity, while the strains 

 them.selves differed considerably in aroma and flavor. 



The Lancaster County fertilizer experiments comparing the use of manure 

 alone and manure fortified with acid phosphate, sulphate of potash, and cotton 

 seed meal in different combinations, resulted in average yields of 754 lbs. 

 p<'r acre for the untreated plat and 1,389 lbs. for manure alone. The maximum 

 yield, 1,749 lbs. per acre, was .securetl from a treatment consisting of manure, 

 cottonseed meal, dissolved bone, and sulphate of potash. Each addition to the 

 manure produced a decided increase in yield, although the greater amounts 

 of potash and nitrogen did not prove profitable. In general, all additions of 

 manure dressing distinctly improved leaf quality. 



In 1915 tests of adaptation of binder and wrapper types on the Clinton- 

 Lycoming sandy soils, two strains of the wrapper type, Ohio Hybrid and Halli- 

 day Hybrid, were harvested by priming, producing 2,880 and 1,591 lbs. per 

 acre, respi'ctively. Harvested and cured on the stalks, Ohio Hybrid yielded GOO 



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