242 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



rence and value of a large number of range plants is noted, together with the 

 cultivut^'d plants grown as meadow and luiy crops. Notes are also given on the 

 re(;lanuition of swamp lands in this section, the needs of the region, poisonous plants, 

 weeds of meadows and pastures, and a number of diseases injurious to forage crops. 

 The cultivation in this region of alfalfa, timothy, redtop, awnless ]>rome grass, wheat, 

 barley, ryi', cheat, and roots as forage crops is considered. 



The needs of the region, as summarized by the author, are summer i)asture for 

 sheep, hay and pasture crops suited to the highland regions of the Blue and Warner 

 mountains, an early maturing perennial grass for the desert l>asins where water for 

 irrigation can be obtained for only a very short time, a variety of alfalfa requiring 

 less water than the common form, and another one resisting the effect of soluble salts 

 in the soil. The following native grasses are recommended as worthy of cultivation: 

 Wild wheat {Eh/nms iriticoides), bunch blue grass {Poa hviigata), short-awned brome 

 (Bromus marginatus) , mountain ryegrass {Ehjmus glaucusi) , bunch wheat grass {Agro- 

 pyron xpicatum merme), and giant ryegrass {Elymus condensuhis). Brief notes on 

 their value are given. 



Field experiment with, nitrate of soda on forage crops, E. B. Voorhees {Neiv 

 Jersey Stas. Bui. 164, pp- 1-13, 28, ph. 3). — This work is in continuation of experi- 

 ments with various forms of nitrogen begun in 1898 (E. S. R., 13, p. 742). In 1902 

 the crops were grown on acre plats. The following table is explanatory of the experi- 

 ments and the results obtained. 



Results of field experiments with nitrate of soda in 1902. 



It is concluded that the use of nitrate of soda as a top dressing for wheat, rye, and 

 millet increases the yield and improves the quality of the crop. An application of 

 150 lbs. per acre applied broadcast about April 1, is recommended for wheat and rye, 

 and 150 to 200 lbs. per acre for millet and other summer cereals as soon as the crops 

 are well started. 



lieg-uminous forage plants, J. Withycombe {Oregon Sta. Bid. 76, pp. 47-68, 

 figs. 4).— This bulletin gives popular information relative to the growing of legumi- 

 nous forage plants in Oregon. The different plants considered are red clover, vetch, 

 alfalfa, crimson clover, field pea, sainfoin, soy bean, and cowpea. 



It ^\•as observed at the station that the roots of some alfalfa plants withstood the 

 presence of water in the soil, while the roots of other plants either stopped growth 

 or rotted off when reaching a certain degree of moisture. This effect is consideretl 

 as indicating the possibility of developing by selection a type of alfalfa bett(.'r 

 adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of western Oregon than the type suiteil 

 to arid soils and grown under irrigation. 



Crimson clover sown in the fall of 1901 germinated about Sej^tember 1 and yielded 

 the next spring 23.67 tons of green forage per acre, while in 1902 the seed germinated 

 about November 1 and the yield of green forage in the spring of 1903 was only 6.67 

 tons ]>er acre. The field pea and the cowpea are not considered valuable for west- 

 ern Oregon. 



