FIELD CROPS. 465 



phosphorus in the fertihzer, as compared witli the nitrogen and potassium, sliould 

 be much greater than that found in ])arnyard manure. 



"While the effect of nitrogen in the fertilizer is secondary to that of jjliosphorus on 

 these crops grown in rotation with clover, the considerably larger increase produced 

 by fertilizers containing nitrogen, especially in the wheat crop on the worn soil at 

 Wooster, is evidence that this element can not be entirely omitted from a fertilizer 

 for such soils without loss of possible increase. 



"Potassium apparently occupies the third place in a fertilizer for these soils, yet it is 

 evident that some carrier of this element is essential to the highest effectiveness of 

 the fertilizer. 



"No definite ratio between the different constituents of the fertilizer can be fixed 

 for all soils and crops. Apparently crojjs immediately succeeding clover or other 

 legumes require less nitrogen in the fertilizer than those more remote, while the ratio 

 between the phosphorus and potassium needed is probably chiefly determined by 

 the geological history of the soil." 



Fertilizer formulas for different conditions are suggested. 



Infected alfalfa soil, C. G. Hopkins {Illinois Sta. CIrc. 70, pp. 2). — Brief directions 

 are given for the inoculation of land with infected alfalfa soil furnished by the 

 station. 



Experiments with buckwheat, J. II. Stewart and H. Atwooo ( TIVn/ Virginia 

 Stn. Bill. S4, pp. 467-474, ph. o). — Fertilizer and variety experiments with buck- 

 wheat have V)een carried on for 5 years at the station and near Reedsville, in Preston 

 Co. At Reedsville in 1898 plats receiving 300 lbs. nitrate of soda, 400 lljs. sulj^hate of 

 potash, and 400 lbs. acid phosphate yielded 17.5, 21.2, and 43.7 bu. per acre, respec- 

 tively, as compared with 1 7.5 bu. on the check plat. The year following the yields on 

 plats fertilized with 188 11 )s. nitrate of soda, 90 lbs. sulphate of potash, and 77 lbs. 

 acid phosphate were 10, 17.7, and 31.6 bu. per acre, respectively. 



In 1900 acid phosphate exercised a lieneficial influence wherever applied, whether 

 alone or in combination, while nitrate of soda and sulphate of potash, either alone or 

 used together, did not materially increase the yield. The i>lat receiving 400 lbs. 

 acid phosphate ranked first, with a yield of 40 bu., while thei)lat receiving the same 

 amount of nitrate of soda and sulphate of potash yielded 23.08 and 23.1 bu., respec- 

 tively. The check plat in this series gave a yield of 22 bu. per acre. 



The results of 1901 show that amounts of acid phosphate in excess of 150 lbs. per 

 acre increased the yield but slightly. The i>lat which received no fertilizer in 

 addition to 30 bu. of stone lime per acre applied in 1899 yielded this season 32.1 bu. 

 per acre as compared with 22.7 bu. on the no-fertilizer plat. The last year of the 

 experiments acid phosphate again showed its supeTior effect, and nitrate of soda and 

 sulphate of potash gave the best returns when used in connection with each other. 

 In the experiments at the station acid phosphate did not sliow sut-h marked results, 

 yet its beneficial effect was apparent. 



In a variety test the average yields for 3 crops, 1 grown at the station and the 

 others at Reedsville, were 31.3, 19.6, 18.1, and 20.8 bu. per acre for Japanese, Silver 

 Hull, Gray, and Russian Ijuckwheat, respectively. Seed from Ontario, Canada, 

 yielded 3 bu. per acre more than seed grown in West Virginia. 



Buckwheat was sown on 8 different dates, from May 5 to July 13, and the best 

 yield was ol)tained from the sowing May 28, which was closely followed by that 

 made June 6. Suggestions on the culture of the crop are given. 



The continuous growth of mangels for 27 years on the same land, Barn 

 Field, Rothamsted, A. I). Haij. {.Jmir. Rdij. A(jr. Sac. EugJarul, Co {WO;.^), jijj. -27- 

 59, figs. 9). — An account is given of the experiments in the continuous growth of 

 mangels on the same land, which form a part of the Rothamsted investigations. 



