FIELD CROPS. 1057 



cm. high, removing the upper 15 cm., and leaving the'cul material as it falls will not 

 only prevent lodging bul will also make a mimic uniform crop in length of straw and 

 size of head and kernel, [f after the lirst cutting the growth of the crop is vigorous 

 enough to indicate danger of lodging, it may be cul again about 2 weeks later when 

 the plants have again reached the heightof 30 cm. The mowing should be done 

 when the <lew is off, preferably in the afternoon. This method was successfully 

 applied in 1901 on Chevalier barley growing on rich and well-fertilized Boil during a 

 warm, rainy season. 



Prout's farm, an example of 45 years' continuous culture of cereals with- 

 out manure, B. Skalweit {Mitt. Deut. Landw. Gesett., .'/ (1906), No. 8, Sup. 8, pp. 

 tS-16). — The general managemenl of the farm, the crop rotations followed, theuse 

 of commercial fertilizers, the cost of production, and the value of the crops produced 

 are briefly discussed. 



Report on experiments carried out at Bramford and Saxmundham by the 

 East Suffolk Education Committee, T. II. Middleton (Cambridgt Univ., Dept. 

 Agr., 1904, I'/ 1 - 48, dgm. l). — A rotation experiment was conducted to study the 

 effects of differenl kinds of plant food on common crops. The crops grown in the 



rotation were roots, barley, clover or beans, and wheat. The fertilizers used were 



nitrate of soda, superphosphate of lime, and muriate of potash. 



The importance and value of these three fertilizers varied with the soil and the 

 crop. On clay soil nitrate of soda was of great value to mangels and of some value 

 to barley; superphosphate, to clover, mangels, and barley, while potash had little or 

 no effect. On light soil nitrate of soda benefited mangelsand barley, and muriate of 



potash mangels and clover; but superphosphate did not benefit any of the crops. 

 The continuous use for 12 years of 2 cwt. of nitrate of soda per acre on the light soil 

 did not deteriorate the land, while a similar use of superphosphate was injurious to 

 mangels and apparently, to a slight extent, to some of the other crops. The contin- 

 ued use of barnyard manure for 12 years on this light soil did not result in any appre- 

 ciable accumulation of fertility. 



In the second rotation experiment the quantities of manures to be used, the time 

 of their application, and their effect were studied. The best results were secured by 

 using 1 cwt. of nitrate of soda ami 5 cwt. of superphosphate of lime per acre for the 

 root crop, 2\ cwt. of superphosphate for barley, the same quantity the following sea- 

 son for clover, and 10 tons of barnyard manure for the wheat crop. The experiment 

 further showed that residues of fertilizer applications may have substantial values, 

 varying, however, with the crop. Clover extracted more from residues than barley 

 and barley more than roots. It was shown that clover may receive great benefit 

 from superphosphate applied a year before the crop is sown, while mangels appear 

 to be benefited very little by the same treatment. It was also Bhown that the resi- 

 due of any particular application is greatly infli need by the soil. The barnyard 

 manure left a valuable residue on the clay soil and but an unimportant one on the 

 light soil. 



The results of experiments on the improvement of poor L r rass land show that on a 

 clay soil from 5 to 10 cwt. of basic slag per acre is the most profitable application. 

 Potash and lime did nol prove profitable. The use of nitrogenous manures in 

 conjunction with phosphates when beginning to improve poor clay soils is not 

 recommended. 



A fertilizer experiment with alfalfa showed that on clay soils this crop responds 

 freely to phosphatic manures, remaining indifferent to dressings containing potash, 

 while on sandy soils, the potash manures are very effective and phosphates may fail 

 to show improvement. 



Variety tests of wheat, oats, and potatoes, <i. C. Watbon and X. <J. Milleb 

 [Pennsylvania Sto. Bul. 76, pp. IS). — The yields of varieties most productive at the 

 station since 1887 are reported. 



