544 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The Woburn pot-culture experiments, 1903, J. A. Voelcker (Jour. Roy. 

 Agr. Soc. England, 65 (1904), pp. 306-315, figs. 2). 



The Hills experiments. — In studying the influence of the iodids ami oxids of man- 

 ganese, potassium, sodium, and lithium on wheat the salts were mixed in the solid 

 state with the upper 4 lbs. of soil in the pots. 



The iodids were used at the rate of 1 cwt. per acre and the oxids at the rate of 

 2 cwt. The iodids of the 4 metals had an injurious effect, which was most marked in 

 the case of the iodid of manganese (Mnl 2 ). All the oxids had a beneficial influ- 

 ence on the growth of wheat, particularly the oxid of lithium. In the tests with 

 barley all applications were made at the rate of 2 cwt. per acre. The iodids proved 

 more injurious than in the experiments with wheat, while the oxids were neither 

 harmful nor productive of a direct benefit. 



The plants treated with lithium oxid were particularly healthful and vigorous, very 

 broad-leaved, and well tillered. The results of water-culture experiments on barley 

 with the iodids and oxids of manganese and lithium show that the iodids had an injur- 

 ious effect on the root growth, being more marked as the strength of the solution 

 increased. The oxids remained neutral. The manganese salts produced a thin, 

 long, wiry root, and the lithium salts a thick, short, and stunted one. 



Miscellaneous experiments. — From the results of a test with large and small kernels 

 of barley for seed it is concluded that when the grains have good germinating power 

 the smaller grains "are just as good or even better to sow than the large grains, and 

 so long as the small grains are unbroken and sound there is no reason for considering 

 their germinating power inferior to that of the larger grains." 



[Work with field crops], J. S. Cole (South Dakota Sta. Ept. 1905, pp. 14-19).— 

 The report of the department of agronomy of the station for the year ended June 30, 

 1905. Brief notes are given on the experimental work in the rotation of crops and 

 the adaptation and improvement of cereals, flax, and buckwheat. In connection 

 with this w r ork there were grown in 1904 230 varieties of wheat, 133 of barley, 95 of 

 oats, 6 of rye, 5 of millet, 3 of buckwheat, and 3 of flax, and in addition nearly 600 

 selections were grown on plant-breeding plats. 



Results of experiments conducted by the agricultural winter school at 

 Frankenthal, V. Renner (Deut. Landw. Presse, 32 (1905), Nos. 51, pp. 435-437; 52, 

 pp. 451, 452; 53, pp. 463, 464; 56, pp. 484, 485). — Of 14 varieties of wheat Rimpau 

 Bastard, Strube Squarehead, and Pfalz were best adapted to the region. 



Pfalz is recommended for conditions of soil and rotation more or less unfavorable 

 to the more productive varieties on account of winterkilling and summer droughts, 

 while Strube Squarehead is considered suitable for farms on which winterkilling and 

 summer droughts are not so likely to occur, and where soil and other conditions tend 

 to produce heavy yields. Rimpau Bastard wheat was apparently suited to soils inter- 

 mediate between those recommended for Pfalz and Strube Squarehead. This variety 

 was found to require the use of high-bred seed from time to time for the purpose of 

 maintaining its yielding power. The dry matter content of the grain was 87.83, 87.25, 

 and 87.59 per cent, and that of protein 11.45, 9.99, and 11.15 per cent for Pfalz, Strube 

 Squarehead, and Rimpau Bastard, respectively. 



The results with rye indicated that Heine Improved Zeelander is best adapted to 

 give good results with sufficient moisture, and that on very dry soils French Cham- 

 paign gave the best results. Hannah rye seemed also well adapted to the dry soils, 

 and has the advantage of ripening earlier and being less subject to lodging than French 

 Champaign. On medium to light soils Petkus rye gave the best yields. Petkus is a 

 high-bred variety, and under certain conditions subject to rather rapid deterioration, 

 and for this reason the use of high-bred seed at certain intervals is recommended. 



Third annual report of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Associa- 

 tion, R. A. Moore (Ann. Ept. Wis. Agr. Expt. Assoc, 3 (1905), pp. 188, pis. 7, figs. 3).— 

 This report, compiled by R. A. Moore, secretary of the association, presents the 



