738 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



157,000, and 171.000 plants per acre. Because of the lack of moisture the 

 lighter stands gave .slightly greater yields, but the difference in stand secured 

 indicated the desirability of shallow seeding. 



In small grain investigations at the Waterville Substation, beardless varieties 

 yielding the most grain were found to be the best for forage. Highest yields of 

 hay were secured when harvested in the dough stage. Fall seeding gave better 

 results than spring seeding. The pi'actlce of harrowing winter wheat in the 

 spring did not appear to increase yields at the station. When grown in culti- 

 vated rows, spring wheat is said to have yielded higher than when drilled in 

 the usual way. Field peas sown May 3 yielded 50 per cent less than when 

 sown April 5, emphasizing the necessity of early planting to obtain best results. 



Pall seeded farm crops, E. B. Stookey {Washington Stn., West. Wash. Sta. 

 Mo. Bill,, 8 {1920), No. 5, pp. 68-70).— This briefly discusses the practices 

 deemed best for fall planting of wheat, rye, winter oats, vetches, grasses, 

 clovers, and crop mixtures in western Washington, and indicates the most 

 profitable varieties and rates of seeding. 



Forage crops for the nonirrigated lands of Idaho, R. K. Bonnett {Idaho 

 Sta. Bui. 120 {1920), pp. 23, Jigs. 5). — Brief notes on the perennial grasses, 

 legumes, and grass mixtures suitable to the drier regions of Idaho are presented, 

 in addition to instructions regarding the preparation, seeding, and use of nurse 

 crops. The success of forage crops on the nonirrigated lands is said to be 

 determined largely by the cultural practices followed in the preparation of the 

 seed bed and in seeding. Comparative yields of various grass mixtures, sweet 

 clover, alfalfa, and Sudan grass at different rates and methods of seeding are 

 given in tabular form. 



Soil moisture movement in relation to growth of alfalfa, C. A. Thompson 

 and E. L. Barkows {New Mexico Sta. Bid. l.>3 {1920), pp. 38, figs. i8).— Supple- 

 menting work previously noted (E. S. R., 33. p. 229), this report studies on the 

 movement and distribution of soil moisture in connection with the depth of 

 application of irrigation water and cultural treatment of the soil. Climatic, 

 meteorological, and yield data, as well as plant-root measurements, are pre- 

 sented in tabular and diagrammatic form and are fully discussed. The results 

 obtained may be summarized as follows : 



Yields of alfalfa were found to increase in proportion to the total depth of 

 water applied regardless of soil depth, while the yield per acre-inch of water 

 decreased with an increase in the amount of water added. Besides requiring 

 larger amounts of water to maintain a given percentage of moisture, plats culti- 

 vated after irrigation showed smaller average yields and smaller yields per acre- 

 inch of water than uncultivated plats. The duty of water decreased as the 

 amount applied was amplified, and increased as the depth of soil over gravel 

 increased. 



It was noted that water did not percolate below the reach of plant roots on 

 cropped plats receiving an average annual application of 55 in. Percolation 

 was observed below 10 ft. on fallow plats receiving from 25 to 30 in. of water 

 annually, but not on fallow plats receiving annual applications of from 15 to 

 20 in. But slight variation was found in the moisture content of the soil be- 

 low 4 ft. on cropped plats receiving 3 in. of water at each application. Evapo- 

 ration from fallow plats during the growing season was about 20 in. 



Alfalfa {U. S. Dept. Agr., Depf. Circ. 115 {1920), pp. 6).— This describes cul- 

 tural methods and field practices deemed best for growing the crop on soils not 

 of limestone origin. 



Corn experiments at the Judith Basin Substation, W. P. Baied {Montana 

 Sta. Bui. 132 {1919), pp. 2!i, fl,gs. 10). — Experiments conducted in cooperation 



