FIELD CROPS. 137 



ous long needles set at right angles to its surface, into tlie soil of the pot con- 

 taining the roots after one side of the pot had been removed. 



This study was planned to throw light on the influence of fertilizer, moisture, 

 and firmness of soil, on the amount of root growth, the length of roots, and the 

 weight of above-ground parts, and the ratio between the root mass and the 

 above-ground parts, in respect to clay and sandy soils with barley and wheat. 



A clay soil, fertilized, showed a less length of root system in a dry condition 

 (11.25 per cent moisture content) than in a moist condition (19 per cent mois- 

 ture content), but a greater weight of root growth, whether loose or hard 

 packed, fertilized or not, with both barley and wheat. Root growth was gen- 

 erally greater in the loose clay with barley, but compaction was more favorable 

 with wheat. With wheat, the unfertilized clay soil produced greater root 

 growth than the fertilized without regard to the moisture or compaction of 

 soil. 



With a sandy soil the root development was generally greater without the 

 fertilizers, regardless of the degree of moisture or firmness of soil, with both 

 barley and wheat, while in the presence of other factors firmness favored root 

 development In general, a greater root system was produced in the case of 

 barley in a dry (5.4 per cent moisture content) sandy soil, whether loose or 

 firm, fertilized or not. A dry sandy soil produced a better root system with 

 wheat in a loose condition than when compact, without regard to the fertilizer 

 application. 



In general, with both barley and wheat 1 gm. of roots produced a larger 

 amount of above-ground parts in both clay and sandy soil when fertilized than 

 when not fertilized, in a moist soil than in a dry soil, and in a compact than In 

 a loose soil, 



A study of the variations in chemical composition of the timothy and 

 wheat plants during- growth and ripening, L. D. Haigh (Orig. Commun. 8. 

 Intemat. Cong. Appl. Chem. iWasliinigton and Neio York], 26 {1912), Sects. 

 Vla-XIh, App., pp. 115-117). — This is an abstract giving the results found 

 with timothy at 7 stages of growth and with wheat at 4 stages. 



" The timothy plant takes up its plant food, nitrogen, and ash constituents at 

 the most rapid rate in the young stages. It continues at a decreasing rate to 

 absorb plant food during growth and in about the same rate as this growth 

 proceeds. The percentage of moisture in the green plant is also the highest in 

 the young stages. The heads of timothy increase in dry matter throughout the 

 growth and ripening period. This increase includes all the plant constituents 

 except potassium oxid, which had reached its maximum amount before the 

 heads were collected for analysis. . . . Nitrogen-free extract increases at the 

 greatest rate of all constituents. As the heads approach full ripening a notice- 

 able increase of phosphorus pentoxid occurs. The stalks of the timothy in- 

 crease in dry matter during growth and ripening; this dry matter added con- 

 sists chiefly of crude fiber and nitrogen-free extract. Nitrogen, ether soluble 

 material, potassium oxid, and phosphorus pentoxid increase during grov/th but 

 decrease to some extent during ripening. The bulbs increase in dry matter 

 throughout the growth period, but the amount becomes constant before ripening 

 of the hay. The material stored up is principally nitrogenous matter and 

 nitrogen-free extract. No starch is produced in the bulbs during the storing 

 process. Potassium oxid is found in maximum amount in the first stage but 

 phosphorus pentoxid tends to increase in amount as the plant matures. 



" Large amounts of available potash and phosphoric acid are required for a 

 good yield of timothy. Timothy would hardly prove a profit-yielding crop on 

 soils other than those rich in potash, especially where the mineral elements 

 would have to be supplied in the form of fertilizer. 



