34 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



[Vol. 41 



throughout the season ou two plats. The results obtained are given in the 

 following table : 



Effect of 3-inch mulch, Jxire surface, and xoeeds on the moisture content and 

 nitrate formation in three types of soil. 



Observations on wheat seedlings grown in soil solutions obtained by leach- 

 ing, filtering, and centrifuging are held to indicate that Kafir corn and milo 

 maize do not exert a toxic effect upon the soil, even in seasons when Kafir 

 corn has injured the wheat growth, as shown by comparLson with corn. 

 Nutrient solutions used in conjunction with water cultures indicated that Kafir 

 corn soil was lacking in available nitrogen. Applications of nitrogen alone on 

 Kafir corn soil resulted in a growth of oats exceeding that secured on un- 

 treated corn soil or corn soil with nitrogen. Less moisture and nitrates were 

 found in the soil from the Kafir corn plats than from the corn plats at the 

 time of planting fall wheat, thought to be due to the fact that the Kafir corn 

 produced about twice as much dry matter as the corn. 



Kanred winter wheat again demonstrated its superiority over other varieties, 

 averaging 4.5 bu. per acre more than Turkey and 4.7 bu. more than Kharkof 

 for a 7-year period. It also appears to be markedly resistant to cold and to 

 certain strains of black stem rust. Kansas Nos. 2414 and 2415 also proved 

 to be quite resistant to both cold and rust, while Nebraska Hybrid No. 34 was 

 less winter hardy and is deemed unsuited to Kansas conditions. 



In a comparison of 87 varieties of small grain, mostly wheat, as to their 

 susceptibility to injury from the Hessian fly, it was found that the fly seldom 

 lays eggs on oats, barley, einkorn, spring emmer, or durum wheat, and less 

 abundantly on soft winter wheats than on hard winter wheats. It was also 

 observed that on certain varieties, notably lUini Chief, Dawson Golden Cliaff, 

 Beechwood Hybrid, and Currell Selection, very few flaxseeds developed, al- 

 though eggs were laid on the plants in abundance. 



Wheat seeded in furrows produced on the average 2 bu. per acre more than 

 that seeded in the usual way, while north and south seeding again gave better 

 results than east and west seeding. 



The average corn yields on uncultivated plats from which the weeds were 

 removed with a hoe were only 1.1 bu. per acre less than for plats cultivated in 

 the usual way, while summer cultivation gave the lowest yields. Spacing 

 corn 20 in. gave the best results on upland and 16 in. on bottom land as an 

 average for four years. 



In a 5-ycar test of different silage crops, Kansas Orange sorghum, BlackhuU 

 White Kafir, and corn produced average yields of 19.2, 12.6, and 12.1 tons per 

 acre, respectively. 



Experiments begun in 1915 to determine the possibilities of improving native 

 pasture land l)y a deferred and rotation system of grazing are said to indi- 

 cate that the vacant ground is deci'easing to a marked degree, that pure grass 



