350 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Yellow Dent. Seed ripeueil at the station proved e(jual in vitality to f^eed obtained 

 from other sources. Only 1 variety of sweet corn, ( )akview Early Market, planted 

 May 23, reached the edible stage. 



Notes on the growth of a large number of forage crops are given. Good results 

 were obtained with a number of varieties of alfalfa, including sand lucern. Crim- 

 son Clover in 1902 yielded 2,533 lbs. of hay per acre. The yields of field peas for 

 the season ranged from 29 to 41 bu. per acre. The Black-Eyed Marrowfat pea gave 

 a yield of 41 bu. of peas and 4,100 lbs. of straw per acre. Winter vetch produced 

 4,373 lbs. of hay per acre, while spring vetch gave a little less than 3,000 lbs. A 

 yield of 920 lbs. of ripe seed per acre, with 5,400 lbs. of straw, was obtained from 

 spring vetch in 1902. 



Spring vetch and wheat grown together produced 5,200 lbs., and vetch alone only 

 3,400 lbs. of hay per acre. The mixed crop cured in a much shorter time than the 

 vetch alone. Frost injured the growth of soy beans, and completely destroyed cow- 

 peas. Lentils yielded at the rate of 160 lbs. of seed and 3,760 lbs. of straw per acre. 

 In 1902 brome grass gave a yield of 3,285 lbs. of hay per acre in July, and by the 

 middle of September had again headed at a height of 16 in. The growth and yields 

 of rye, clover, timothy, orchard grass, redtop, spurry, sorghum, millet, rape, hemp, 

 and flax are briefly noted. 



The results of variety tests with potatoes in 1901 are reported and a number of 

 varieties described. Pingree and Sir Walter Raleigh ripened earliest, being followed 

 by Bovee, Six Weeks, Pride of Michigan, Hearst, and Irish Cobbler. Sir Walter 

 Raleigh, Rose of Erin, Northlight, and Wonder of the World, in the order given, 

 were most resistant to blight. Delaware led with a total yield of 333.33 bu. per acre, 

 followed by Sir Walter Raleigh with 312.84, and Rose of Erin with 293.33 bu. In 

 1902 Sir Walter Raleigh ranked first, with a yield of 226.33 bu., and Rose of Erin 

 second, with a yield of 222.22, while Delaware this season gave only 151.11 bu. 



The results of fall and spring planting of potatoes, together with the effects of 

 spraying with Bordeaux mixture against blight, are reported. The fall planting was 

 done October 30, and the different varieties under test matured from September 15 to 

 28. The yields obtained from fall planting compared very favorably with spring 

 planting. Spraying in every case largely increased the yield. The work with vege- 

 tables and fruits is noted elsewhere. 



Cooperative work with the XT. S. Department of Agriculture, E. Nelson 

 ( Wyoiiimg Sia. Rpt. 1903, pp. 57-66). — This work consists of grass and forage plant 

 investigations. A number of grass plats were started in 1901, and the record of the 

 second year's growth is here reported. Festuca pratensis, F. rubra, Agropyron occi- 

 dentale, A. dasystachyum subvillosum., and Bromm jiumpeUianus remained green during 

 September, while the other species reached full maturity in August. Broium pum- 

 pjeUianus surpassed both £. inermis and B. inarginatus in thriftiness and amount of 

 leaf growth. MeUlolus officinalis made a dense growth, but was entirely killed by frost 

 on September 11. Poterium sanguisorba grew from 13 to 20 in. high and matured 

 seed. It withstood the frost well and remained green until late in the fall. 



Experiments in methods of seeding were made with Atriplex argentea, A. nuttalii, 

 and A. truncata. Seeding J in. deep gave the best results. No difference w^as 

 observed between late fall and spring seeding. Seeds of the 3 species were stratifie 1 

 in moist sand in a cool cellar for 60 days and planted in comparison with dry seed. 

 A few plants were obtained from the stratified seed of A. argentea and .1. frinicata, 

 while none of the dry seeds grew. Germination tests of seed of 7 species showed 

 very low percentages of germination for the species with seeds inclosed in very thick 

 and hardened bracts. Of the seed of A. philonitra and A. truncata, with bracts not so 

 thick and indurated, 27 and 39 per cent, respectively, germinated, and of 25 husked 

 seeds of A. nuttalii, 24 grew. Seeds of A. argentea run through a hand-grinding mill 

 for the purpose of crushing the husk produced plants much earlier than untreated 

 seeds, and the growth at the end of the season was also considerably larger. 



