FIELD CROPS. 667 



and 31.4 bu. of peas, and 1,748 lbs. of hay and 16.4 bu. of peas per acre, respectively. 

 In 1901 peas sown at the rate of 12.5 lbs. per acre yielded 400 lbs. of hay and 16.51 

 bii. of peas more per acre than peas sown at the rate of 100 lbs. per acre. 



A good preparation of the soil with subsequent cultivation of the crop gave very 

 profitable returns. The increase in the yield of hay on cultivated plats at the station 

 was in some instances over 50 per cent and in others over 100 per cent greater than 

 the yield on uncultivated plats. 



The results of fertilizer experiments conducted in 1901 and 1902 indicate that 

 applications of nitrogen did not benefit cowpeas on the station soil. Plats receiving 

 phosphoric acid or potash, in combination or alone, showed a substantial increase in 

 the yield of peas and hay. Attention is called to the fertilizing value of cowpeas by 

 the results of growing the crop in rotation with oats or wheat. In one instance a 

 plat sown to cowpeas in the spring produced $18 worth of hay, and afterwards a crop 

 of oats valued at $18.50, while a plat of oats not following cowpeas gave a return of 

 only $11.58. In another instance cowpeas produced $19.33 worth of hay and the 

 stubble plowed under increased the following crop of wheat by 61 per cent, as com- 

 pared with wheat not following cowpeas. The values of the crops in this case were 

 $32.53 and §8.08, respectively. 



A series of experiments in progress for 4 years show an average yield of wheat of 

 10.05 bu. per acre on i^lats on which no fertilizers were used and no cowpeas were 

 grown. During the 4 years the plats upon which a whole crop of cowpeas had been 

 plowed under before the first crop of wheat was sown yielded a total of 15.55 bu., 

 and the plants upon which only the stubble were turned under, a total of 10.45 bu. 

 more per acre than the plats receiving no treatment whatever. The use of cowpeas 

 as described gave better returns than 100 or 200 lbs. nitrate of soda or 200, 400, 600, 

 or 800 lbs. of complete fertilizers per acre applied for the first crop of wheat. 



Plats of corn planted with cowpeas, either in drills or broadcasted at the last culti- 

 vation, produced an average value of total product for 2 years of $50.99, where both 

 peas and hay were harvested, as compared with an estimate of $54.31 for the plats 

 on which peas were gathered and the remaining portion of the crop was grazed by 

 cattle. The average value of the total product for the 2 years on the plats without 

 cowpeas w'as $23.80. Warren Extra Early, a variety suited to late planting, was 

 used in these tests. 



A series of plats which had produced a crop of wheat preceded by cowpeas sown 

 broadcast were again planted to cowpeas in drills in June, 1901. One plat was left 

 bare as a check. The cowpeas were harvested in the fall and a second crop of wheat 

 sown. The average value of the wheat and the cowpeas grown as a catch crop on 7 

 plats in 1901-was $26.85 per acre, while the crop of wheat on the check plat was 

 worth only $11.84. The plats i)lanted to cowpeas in 1901 produced in 1902 an average 

 of 2.43 bu. more wheat than the check plat, an increase of 17.8 per cent. 



A test of 123 samples of cowpfeas, embracing about 35 varieties under about 45 

 names, was made in 1902 and the results are tabulated. Calico, Coffee, Extra 

 Early Black Eye, Iron, New Era, Eed Yellow Hull, Speckled Java, Warren Extra 

 Early, Warren New Hybrid, Watson Hybrid, AVhippoorwill, and White Brown Eye 

 produced the highest yields of shelled peas. The heaviest yield of hay. 8,700 lbs. 

 per acre, was secured from Clay. New Era, Old INIans, Warren Extra Early, Extra 

 Early Black Eye, and Warren New Hybrid gave a greater proportion of peas to 

 vines than the other varieties tested and are recommended for their early maturity. 



Flax experiments, 1902 {Jour. Dept. Agr. and Tech. Insir. Ireland, 3 (1903), No. 

 4, pp. 663-681).— Resulis for 1901 have been previously noted (E. S. R., 14, p. 348). 

 Three plats for the purpose of testing salt, rape meal, and basic slag were added to 

 the series in 1902, and larger quantities of kainit and muriate of potash were used. 



The results of all cooperative tests showed that the flax on all plats excej)ting those 

 receiving potash was slightly yellowed, that superphosphate encouraged the growth 



