FIELD CEOPS. 327 



The alfalfa, estimated to be worth $120, was fed to a team. By way of con- 

 trast it is shown that 110 acres of barley grown under extensive farming pro- 

 duced 13S.S tons of grain and 7 tons of barley hay, netting $12.21 per acre. 



Report of the agriculturist, W. P. Brooks, E. S. Fulton, and E. F. Gaskill 

 (Masmchusctts 8ta. Rpt. 1907, pp. 29-57 ) .—Previous results of this series of 

 experiments have been noted heretofore (E. S. R., 19, p. 226). The work was 

 conducted on 318 field plats, 153 closed plats, and 330 pots in vegetation experi- 

 ments. 



The relative rank in value as sources of nitrogen on the basis of total yield 

 of the materials under comparison in 1907 was nitrate of soda, dried blood, 

 barnyard manure, and sulphate of ammonia. The average percentage basis 

 for all results secured since 1890 is as follows : Nitrate of soda 100, barnyard 

 manure 85.92, dried blood 70.21, and sulphate of ammonia 45.36. 



The use of sulphate of potash gave larger crops of raspberries and black- 

 berries than the use of muriate of potash, which was slightly the more effective 

 in the production of cabbages, rhubarb, corn, and squashes. Asparagus gave 

 much better yields where the muriate was used than where the sulphate was 

 applied. In the production of marketable potatoes the potash salts under com- 

 parison ranked as follows: Low-grade sulphate, muriate, nitrate, high-grade 

 sulphate, silicate, carbonate, and kainit, but the differences were relatively 

 small except w^ith the kainit. The plat treated with carbonate of potash was 

 much more infested with scab than the plats receiving the other potash salts. 



The plats receiving a special corn fertilizer supplying 42.6 lbs. of nitrogen, 

 180 lbs. of phosphoric acid, and 77.4 lbs. of potash per acre yielded 58.75 bu. 

 of sound corn, 5 bu. of soft corn, and 6,580 lbs. of stover, while the plats 

 receiving a fertilizer application supplying 47 lbs. of nitrogen, 50 lbs. of phos- 

 l)horic acid, and 125 lbs. of potash produced 54 bu. of sound corn, 7.6S bu. of 

 soft corn, and 6,890 lbs. of stover per acre. Plats of corn treated with manure 

 alone gave a slightly higher yield of sound corn than plats receiving a smaller 

 quantity of manure with a moderate amount of sulphate of potash which gave 

 the higher yields of soft corn and stover. 



In the experiments with different phosphates mixed hay was grown this 

 season. The yields on the plats treated with the different phosphates varied 

 but little. The plats which had received no phosphates during 11 years gave 

 an average of about 4 tons to the acre for the first crop, while the highest yield 

 obtained on any of the phosphate plats at first cutting was only 9,240 lbs. per 

 acre. 



The results of soil tests now in progress for 19 years show the great impor- 

 tance of a liberal supply of potash in growing corn. 



In the test in which barnyard manure, wood ashes, and a combination of 

 fine ground bone and potash is applied in rotation for the production of grass, 

 the average yield per acre for this year was 5,005 lbs. of hay. The average 

 yield for the 15 years the test has continued is 6,296 lbs. per acre. 



In the experiment with winter and spring application of manure on a slope 

 no manure was applied this year, but the crop of mixed grass and clover was 

 extremely heavy and lodged considerably. The differences in yield between the 

 two methods of application were small. Owing to a deficiency of rainfall, 

 nitrate of soda applied for rowen did not repay the cost. 



Seeding' mowings, W. I'. Brooks {Massachusetts Sta. Circ. J 6, pp. <S', figs. 

 3). — This circular in discussing seeding down to grass or mixed grass and 

 clover considers especially preparatory fertilization, time and methods of seed- 

 ing, preparatory tillage, and the varieties of grasses and clover to be used. 



[Early Amber sorghum and alfalfa], J. B. Lindsey {Massachusetts Sta. 

 Rpt. 1007-, pp. 101-103). — The results of 2 years' observations indicate that 50 



