34 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECOED. 



Rpt. 8, pp. 19). — The plan and general results of the experiments reported are 

 similar to those noted on page 33. 



The 5 highest yields secured from farmers' samples averaged 62 bu. per acre, 

 and the 3 highest fx'om the introduced varieties and seed companies' samples 

 yielded 40 and 30 bu. per acre, respectively. The 5 lowest farmers' samples 

 yielded 36, the 3 lowest introduced varieties 19, and the 3 lowest seed companies' 

 samples 22 bu. per acre. The highest yield was obtained by planting an average 

 of from 3 to 3* kernels per hill. 



Demonstration farm reports, 1909, Woodbury County, P. G. Holden, A. H. 

 Snyder, and A. E. Nelson (Iowa State Col. Agr. Extf. Dept., Demonstr. Farm 

 Rpt. 6, pp. 18). — The general plan and results of the experiments reported are 

 similar to those noted above. 



The average yield of the 5 highest yielding samples secured from farms was 

 63.8 bu. per acre as compared with 58.5 for the 3 highest yielding introduced 

 varieties. The figures for the lowest yields were 37.1 and 45.8 bu. per acre, 

 respectively. The 70 farmers' samples averaged 52.7 and the 14 introduced 

 varieties 51.5 bu. per acre. The highest yields were secured from plantings 

 averaging from 3 to 3i kernels per hill. The percentage of seed ears secured 

 varied irregularly and the percentage of barren stalks apparently decreased as 

 the rate of planting increased. 



[Experiments with field crops], D. A. Gilchrist (County NoHhumb., Ed. 

 Com., Bui. IJf, pp. 38-66). — During the period 1906-1009. the Banner oat pro- 

 duced the highest average, 60\j bu. per acre, among 16 varieties tested. The 

 Blainslie variety had the finest straw for feeding purposes and will grow well 

 on clay soil in a bad season, but is low in grain-producing power. Among 7 

 varieties of barley tested Kinver Chevalier and Maltster produced the highest 

 yields of grain and straw. The weight per bushel and of 500 grains of each 

 variety are given. Among 4 varieties of wheat tested in 1909, Browick Grey 

 Chaff produced the highest yield of 40 bu. i^er acre. In a fertilizer test with 

 beans the highest yield followed applications of (1) 10 tons dung, 6 cwt. slag, 

 and 1 cwt. muriate of potash, and (2) 1 ton lime mud, 5 cwt. superphosphate, 

 and 1 cwt. muriate of potash. 



A report is given of a number of sowings of grass and clover seeds singly and 

 in mixtures. Cocksfoot proved the best permanent grass but did poorly when 

 sown alone. During 1905-1909 the Mammoth Long Red mangel produced the 

 highest weight of roots and percentage of dry matter in a variety test. In a 

 fertilizer test on mangels the gi'eatest financial advantage was secured from 

 applications of 12 tons of dung and 2 cwt. of common salt, together with a 

 standard dressing of 510 lbs. of nitrate, 336 lbs. of 26 per cent superphosphate, 

 and 300 lbs. of muriate of potash per acre. An application of salt apparently 

 increased the yield by over 3| tons per acre. Applications of 2 tons of lime and 

 4 tons of lime mud per acre apparently decreased the yield by 24 and 4i tons per 

 acre, respectively. 



Plantings of potatoes were made on different dates from October 17 to May 2, 

 and in 1906 the highest yield was secured from planting April 2, in 1908 from 

 planting March 30, in 1909 from planting March 1, and in 1907 from a planting 

 made on October 23 of the previous year. In another test sprouted tubers pro- 

 duced about 1§ times the yield produced by unsprouted tubers. 



The percentage of dry matter in swedes was found to vary more within the 

 same variety from year to year during 1900-1909 than did the different varieties 

 during the same year. Early turnips produced heavier crops than swedes but 

 contained little more dry matter per acre. 



In tests with the finger-and-toe disease all applications of lime except that 

 of gas lime proved effective. They were most effective in the fourth, fifth, and 



