242 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



In the potato tests for 1903 Carman No. 3 headed the list witn 270.2 bu., while 

 White Mountain stood last with a yield of only 21.8 bu. per acre. The late varieties 

 were much injured by blight, and this caused the low yield of White Mountain. 

 Early Rose ranked second in total yield with 250.2 bu., and first in the production 

 of marketable tubers with 221.2 bu. per acre. The largest proportion of marketable 

 tubers was produced by Heath Medium Late Surprise and Heath Late Beauty, and 

 the smallest proportion by New Bovee Seedling. The results for a series of years 

 showed that Carman No. 1, Freeman, Enormous, Washington, White Giant, Hia- 

 watha, Pride of Michigan, Extra Early Crusader, Heath Late Beauty, Heath Late 

 Surprise, Heath Favorite, and White Mammoth have given good returns. A descrip- 

 tion of the varieties tested is given in tabular form. 



Alfalfa in Vermont, J. L. Hills and L. R. Jones ( Vermont Sta. Bid. 114, pp- 109- 

 132, fig. 1, maps 2). — This bulletin gives a description of the alfalfa plant, and pre- 

 sents notes on its culture, value, and uses. The results obtained by growing alfalfa in 

 northern Maine, New Hampshire, northern New York, and Vermont, and the views 

 of New England and Canadian experiment stations on alfalfa culture are briefly 

 reported. Of 56 trials at as many different points in Vermont 12 were permanently 

 successful. The best results in the State have so far been obtained in the Champlain 

 Valley. 



Improvement in the quality of barley in Austria, J. Stoklasa (Ztsdtr. Landw. 

 Versuchsw. Oesterr., 8 (1905), No. 1, pp. 1-69, pis. 7). — The fertilizer requirements of 

 barley are pointed out, the mechanical and chemical composition of some of the 

 typical Austrian barley soils is described, and the results of experiments to deter- 

 mine the influence of the principal plant-food elements upon the quality of barley 

 are reported. The experiments were conducted in the greenhouse and on the experi- 

 ment field of the station, as well as by a number of farmers. A bibliography of 

 books and articles relating to the subject is given. 



The plants were grown on ordinary field soil and on fine sand, and the 3 essential 

 plant-food elements were applied in combination in one series of tests and separately 

 in others. The complete application increased the yield of grain 99.9 per cent and 

 the yield of straw 58.7 per cent over the check tests. The use of phosphoric acid 

 alone on the field soil gave an increase of 44.7 per cent of grain and 26.3 per cent of 

 straw, and the use of potash salts also largely increased the yield. The grain from 

 the pots receiving the complete application stood highest in starch content, with 

 76.52 per cent, and lowest in protein, with 10.18 per cent. Corresponding results 

 were obtained on the fine sand. Chlorid of potash proved more effective than sul- 

 phate of potash. 



In the series of pots receiving nitrate of soda alone the starch content ranged from 

 70.03 to 71.51 per cent, being about the same as in the check tests, while the protein 

 content varied from 17.56 to 18.5 per cent. As compared with the no-fertilizer tests, 

 nitrate of soda increased the yield of barley 38.4 and 29.7 per cent, and the yield of 

 straw 45.1 and 55.5 per cent on the field soil and the fine sand, respectively. The 

 increase in straw production due to the separate use of phosphate of lime, sulphate 

 and chlorid of potash, and carbonate of lime and magnesia, ranged from 9.4 to 26.3 

 per cent on the field soil and amounted to 1.5 and 23.4 per cent for chlorid of potash 

 and phosphate of lime, respectively, on the sand. 



It is pointed out from these results that barley after sugar beets gives heavy yields 

 of straw because the soil is well stocked with nitrogen, while the supply of phos- 

 phoric acid and potash is relatively low, and that by the application of these ele- 

 ments the yield of grain may be increased and that of the straw diminished. 



A second experiment was conducted to determine the effect of potash salts on the 

 development of plants. Soil samples from Aurinoves and Modian were used in pot 

 experiments. 



