1919] FIELD CROPS, 35 



is increasing, and that mixed weeds and grass and weeds alone are decreasing 

 on the protected areas. All attempts to seed tame plants have failed, with the 

 exception of sweet clover on protected fields. 



Alfalfa stacked green showed a loss of 39 per cent in dry matter, some of 

 the material being badly spoiled. An analysis of the best black silage showed 

 that the moisture content was practically the same as when the material was 

 placed In the stack, that the ash content was considerably increased, that the 

 protein content was greater than in the original hay, and that the percentage 

 of nitrogen-free extract, crude fiber, and ether extract was less. Prolongation 

 of the drying process is said to produce proteolysis, resulting in an increase in 

 amino acids and amids. 



[Variety tests with alfalfa and potatoes], E. F. Gaskill {Massachusetts 

 Sta. Rpt. 1911, p. 32a). — In variety tests with alfalfa, Grimm again failed to 

 show any superiority over common alfalfa (E. S. R., 38, p. 231). Several 

 seedling potatoes proved to be no better than standard varieties grown in 

 comparison with them. 



[Report of work with field crops in New Jersey], F. App and C. S. Van 

 Nuxs {New Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1917, pp. 313-315, 329-331).— In continuation of 

 work previously noted (E. S. R., 39, p. 736), the progress of studies regarding 

 the source of seed, time of seeding, and cultivation of alfalfa, methods of seed- 

 ing sweet clover, and the selection of seed corn for silage production is briefly 

 described, together with a report of the department of farm crops relative to 

 the acreage and yields on the experiment station farm of corn for grain and 

 silage, rye for grain and straw and as a soiling crop, alfalfa for hay, oats and 

 peas for silage and hay, timothy for hay, and soy beans for green manuring. 



Alfalfa seeded on April 11 with wheat as a nurse crop gave much better re- 

 sults than that seeded without a nurse crop. Plats seeded June 7 were more 

 weedy than those seeded April 11 without a nurse crop, while seedings made 

 August 14 appeared to be in fair condition for the winter but with small growth. 

 Cultivation is deemed undesirable for alfalfa. 



Seeding sweet clover with wheat as a nurse crop early in the spring (the 

 latter part of February or early March) is said to have resulted In a vigorous 

 crop. 



Selecting silage corn seed from the standing stalk is believed to be highly 

 desirable, results secured in the 1917 crop indicating that selected seed was 

 superior to purchased seed in germination and that the plant could be modified 

 to meet the dairyman's needs. 



Progress report, substation No. 11, Nacogdoches, Tex.. 1909—1915, G. T. 

 McNess {Texas Sta. Bui. 237 {1918), pp. 5-27, flr/s. /,).— The Nacogdoches sub- 

 station, located in the east-central part of the State, was established in 1903 

 primarily for the purpose of conducting tobacco investigations in cooperation 

 with the U. S. Department of Agriculture. This bulletin has to do chiefly with 

 the progress of the work since 1911. Meteorological data are presented for the 

 region, indicating that the growing season is comparatively long and the aver- 

 age annual precipitation is 48.5 in. The principal lines of work comprise fer- 

 tilizer experiments with tobacco, supplementing work previously noted (B. S. 

 R., 27, p. 37) ; variety and cultural tests with corn, cotton, cowpeas, soy beans, 

 peanuts, Sudan grass, and Japanese cane; field tests with several other 

 leguminous and nonleguminous forage crops; variety tests with seven different 

 truck crops, and fertilizer tests with tomatoes. The results secured may be 

 briefly summarized as follows: 



Cottonseed meal with other materials and in rather large amounts seemed 

 to be the most effective agent used in fertilizer tests with tobacco, while 

 smaller amounts were effective for other crops than tobacco. 



