728 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECOED. 



cent damage done by birds. It is estimated tliat these plats received 2 acre-incbes 

 of water from December 1 to May 17. Between May 17 and June 7 two-thirds 

 of the area was given another irrigation of 2 acre-inches applied by furrows. 



Fallowing did not succeed in storing last season's rainfall, probably because 

 the rahifall penetrated only 24 ft. deep and a crust iiersistently formed beneath 

 the dust mulch in spite of the maintenance of 5 in. of loose dry soil. The daily 

 variation of soil temperature must cause a constant air circulation, remov- 

 ing the soil moisture. 



On the range silver top or feather blue stem (Andropogon saccharoides) 

 proved drought resistant but " other grasses sown at this time, including sweet 

 grass (Chloris virgata), Rhodes grass {S. gayana), and fine top salt grass 

 {Sporoboliis airoides), died out completely." The yields of various lots of 

 hay cut at different points during the past summer are reported. The pre- 

 vailing grass or grasses on each tract are stated. 



In variety tests during 1910, 10 Asiatic strains of alfalfa, mostly Turkestan, 

 averaged 88.33 per cent in stand and 48,783 lbs. in total yield of green hay 

 for the season, 5 United States strains averaged 86.60 per cent and 49,034 lbs., 

 7 Mexican and South American strains averaged 87.72 per cent and 45,258 

 lbs., and 4 European strains 86.83 per cent and 50,463 lbs., and 4 strains from 

 Arabia, Algeria, and the Mediterranean littoral 65.35 per cent and 87,265 lbs. 

 per acre. ^ 



A progress report is given of tests of brown Tepary beans obtained among 

 the Papago Indians. 



[Variety and manurial tests with cereals and root crops], P. H. Foxjlkes 

 ET AL. (Field Expts. Harper-Adams Agr. Col., and Staffordshire and Sliropsliire, 

 Rpt. 1909, pp. 1-26, 32, 31-1,9, pis. 2).— This is a report for 1909 of field experi- 

 ments begun in 1902. 



A test to determine the requirements of meadow herbage and the profitable- 

 ness and residua] value of natural and artificial fertilizers showed the highest 

 net 4-year profits after an application of (1) 2 J cwt. superphosphate and * cwt. 

 sulphate of potash, (2) the same mixture with Ir cwt. nitrate of soda, and (3) 

 24 cwt. superphosphate alone. In another test superphosphate alone produced 

 more economical results than when used with kainit or lime nitrate and ex- 

 celled potassic superphosphate used alone. 



In a test of 15 wheat varieties Garton 3,408 Red and Garton 3,608 White pro- 

 duced the highest yields of about 53 bu. per acre each. In a comparison of 

 different nitrogen and potash sources in connection with superphosphate for 

 barley 4 cwt. of potassic superphosphate yielded 48.6 bu. per acre, or 7.1 bu. 

 more than the check plat. The same fertilizer with 112 lbs. nitrate of soda 

 yielded 52J bu., with 130 lbs. nitrate of lime 60 bu., and with 84 lbs. sulphate 

 of ammonia 61^ bu. per acre. The last three mixtures were equivalent in 

 nitrogen content, and the last equal in cost to mixtures of (1) 84 lbs. of sul- 

 phate of ammonia and 5.4 cwt. of superphosphate, (2) 84 lbs. of sulphate of 

 ammonia, 512 lbs. of superphosphate, and 115 lbs. of kainit, and (3) 84 lbs. of 

 sulphate of ammonia, 360.8 lbs. of superphosphate, and 80.8 lbs. of kainit, which 

 were followed by yields of 504. 64, and 64 bu. of grain per acre respectively. 

 When sulphate of ammonia was used with both, 4 cwt. of potassic superphos- 

 phate produced 3* bu. of grain per acre more than did superphosphate and 

 kainit, supplying the same amounts of plant food at a lower cost. A chart 

 shows the oat yields secured in variety tests during 1903, 1907, and 1909. 



In both 1908 and 1909, 8 cwt. of basic slag producetl higher and more econom- 

 ical increase in yields of mangels than 7J cwt. of superphosphate or 6 cwt. of 

 potassic superphosphate, when each was used with 15 tons of farmyard manure. 

 During 1907-1909 an application of 10 cwt. of salt per acre was followed by 



