FIELD CROPS. 829 



herbage in the summer. To study the coiiiitetitive rehitions of the root systems 

 typical turf areas were lifted aud the quantity of weed roots estimated. 



The data as taken in various locations in Knjiland and also the care of grass 

 land, including manuring and aeration, are discussed. 



Pastures and pasture grasses for Utah, F. S. Harris (Utah Sta. Circ. 15 

 il9I.l\, pp. 5-7--'/,?, pis. 2). — This doserihos 12 grasses and clovers suitable for 

 pasture purposes In Utah, gives some seetl mixtures, and directions for the 

 planting and care of pastures. 



Variety tests of field crops in Utah, 1'. S. Harris and J. C. IIogenson 

 (Utah »S7(7. BuL 131 (1914), PP- 310-^3J,6, pi. 1, fig. i).— "This bulletin gives data 

 on the yields of different varieties of wheat, oats, barley, corn, potatoes, and 

 beans. The information was obtained from the following sources: (1) The 

 station farms near Logan, (2) the dry-farm substation at Nephl, (3) cooperative 

 tests with a number of good farmers in different parts of the State, and (4) 

 correspondence with a hirge number of farmers. As a result of the tests it is 

 impossible to say exactly what varieties are best, but with each crop there are 

 a number of varieties that do well under almost all circumstances." 



Division of cereals: Summary of results, 1913, C. E. Saunders et al. 

 {Canada Expt. Farms Bui. 7-^ (iOi-J), pp. 32). — Brief notes with some data on 

 cereal variety tests at 15 experimental farms in Canada are reported. 



Preparing land for grain crops on the prairies, J. H. Grisdale (Canada 

 Expt. Farms Bui. 15, 2. scr. {1913), pp. 23, figs. 7).— Methods of preparing laud 

 for crops in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba with animal and tractor 

 power are described in this summary of available data. 



Experiments concerning' the top-dressing of timothy and alfalfa, T. L. 

 I.YON and J. A. BizzELL {Xcw York Cornell Sta. Bui. 339 {1913), figs. 4).— This 

 continues work in rotation experiments, previously noted (E. S. R., 21, p. 42; 

 23, p. 13S), on a silty phase of Dunkirk clay loam in which "a series of field 

 plat5 were subjected to a cropping rotation of timothy 3 years, corn, oats, and 

 wheat each one year. Fertilizers or farm manure were applied to the timothy 

 but not to any of the grain crops, different applications being used on different 

 plats. The experiment has been conducted for 9 years. 



"The results show that fertilization of the soil for timothy increases its pro- 

 ductiveness for succeeding crops. The greatest benefit was derived by the corn 

 crop, which immediately followed the timothy. The oat crop experienced the 

 next greatest benefit, and the wheat the least. 



" Ta!bulations of the financial gains demonstrate that the use of fairly large 

 applications of fertilizers was profitable, resulting iu as much as $G5 per 

 acre net gain for the 6 years and giving a return of $1.67 for every dollar in- 

 vested in the fertilizer. Commercial fertilizers, while not superior to farm 

 manure, were about equally effective. On grain crops commercial fertilizers 

 are usually of less value than farm manure judiciously applied. This experi- 

 ment indicates, therefore, that it is good practice to apply commercial fertilizers 

 to timothy and thus save the farm manure for other crops. 



"Alfalfa that had been growing for G years was laid off iu plats, which were 

 top-dressed with (1) farm manure, (2) acid phosphate, (3) acid phosphate and 

 muriate of potash. All these treatments caused an increase in the yields of hay. 

 Farm manure produced a financial loss; the other treatments resulted iu mone- 

 tary gains, acid phosphate applied singly being superior in this respect. 



"Adjoining' plats of land, on one of which alfalfa grew for G years and on 

 the other of which timothy grew for the same length of time, were plowed, and 

 were planted in one year to corn and in the next year to oats. The corn crop 

 was considerably larger on the alfalfa laud ; the oats were equally good on the 

 2 plats. Analyses of the soils from the 2 plats showed that the alfalfa soil 



