964 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



found that the position of barley grains with reference to the direction of the electric 

 current had a very marked influence upon the electrical effect. 



Electrolysis in these experiments had an injurious effect upon the growth of the 

 plants, and it is concluded that this could not have been due alone to the decom- 

 position products formed in the soil by its action, as otherwise the position of the 

 grains with reference to the direction of the current would not have been so marked. 

 The injurious effect of electricity upon plants when the direction of the current was 

 not reversed at all, or only 2 or 3 times during every 24 hours, was no longer noticed 

 when the current was reversed twice per minute. 



The influence of lime nitrogen on the germination of the seeds of agricul- 

 tural plants, B. Schulze ( Fiihling's Landw. Ztg., 54 {1905), No. 24, PP- 817-822, dgms. 

 2). — Experiments were made with wheat, rye, oats, barley, mustard, sugar beets, 

 buckwheat, flax, carrots, and potatoes. The crops were sown or planted at different 

 intervals after an application of lime nitrogen had been made. 



The results showed in general that lime nitrogen may affect injuriously the ger- 

 mination and vitality of seed when a sufficient interval of time is not allowed between 

 its application and the sowing and planting of the crop. This injurious influence 

 seemed more apparent on a light sandy soil than on heavier and more fertile soils. 

 It is recommended that lime nitrogen be applied at least from 8 to 14 days before 

 seeding or planting. By this method all danger of injury may be avoided. 



Adulteration of Kentucky blue grass and orchard grass seed, J. Wilson 

 ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Office Sec. Circ. 15, pp. 5). — Of 251 samples of Kentucky blue grass 

 41 w r ere found to be adulterated with seed of Canada blue grass, and of 265 samples 

 of orchard grass seed 133 were found to contain common seed adulterants, mainly 

 English rye grass and meadow fescue. The samples were bought in the open mar- 

 ket and the orchard grass samples were obtained from 24 States. The percentage of 

 adulterants found in the different samples is given in a table. 



The value of fertilizer experiments on meadows, T. Remy (Fiihling's Landw. 

 Ztg., 54 (1905), No. 21, pp. 738-741)- — Cooperative fertilizer experiments on meadow r s 

 conducted for 2 and 3 years in succession are reported, and the variation in the results 

 is pointed out. 



The author concludes from the data that in order to find out with comparative 

 certainty the fertilizer requirements of a meadow the experiment should comprise 5 

 plats, one of which receives nitrogen, potash, phosphoric acid, and lime, while on 

 each of the other plats 1 of these elements is omitted. It is also recommended that 

 the experiments be carried on for at least 3 years in succession, and it is pointed out 

 that duplicate experiments add greatly to the certainty of the results. 



The rate of seeding grass seeds, O. Glaerum (Akervakstforsog i 1904- Chris- 

 tiania, 1905, pp. 74-98). — Conclusions with reference to seeding the common grasses 

 are based on the results of cooperative experiments carried on for over 10 years. 



The maximum amount of seed of Norwegian red clover seemed to be betw r een 25 

 and 30 kg. per hectare, the best results being secured with 25 kg. The maximum 

 amount of Alsike clover was about 30 kg., with the most profitable amounts ranging 

 from 25 to 27.5 kg. per hectare. The maximum, and likewise the optimum, quan- 

 tities for timothy, orchard grass, meadow r fescue, and awnless brome grass were 30, 55, 

 90, and 90 kg. of seed per hectare, respectively. From 55 to 60 kg. of seed of peren- 

 nial rye grass per hectare gave the best results. — f. w. woll. 



The influence of precipitation and temperature on the yield of hay crops, 

 (i. Holtsmark (Norges Landbr. Hoiskoles Skr., 1905, No. 7, pp. 16). — The author 

 bases his deductions on observations made during the past 30 years. 



The data indicate that either a high average temperature in May and a heavy pre- 

 cipitation during October, or a low precipitation and low temperature in November 

 of the preceding year, and a heavy precipitation during March, a low precipitation 

 and low temperature in May, and a high average temperature in June of the same 



