14! 



EXPEKIMEJS^T STATION RECORD. 



Experiments are reported which appear to lead to the conclusion 

 that a heavy application of potash neutralizes the detrimental effect 

 of barnyard maiuirc on the formation of starch. 



In experiments on the effect of barnyard manure and chemical fer- 

 tilizers, respectively, on succeeding crops of potatoes, the effect of an 

 application of barnyard manure was almost as marked the second 

 season as the tirst, but in the third season it was very much less, and 

 in the fourth had practicall}' disappeared. The effect of chemical 

 fertilizers on succeeding- crops was much less marked, but when the 

 application of commercial fertilizers was double the amount usualh^ 

 applied the effect on the second crop was almost as great as in the case 

 of barnyard manure. Other considerations in the course of the exper- 

 iments, however, indicate that if the application of potash alone is 

 doubled the same result would be reached. 



The effect of different elements of plant food on yield and starch 

 content of potatoes is shown in the following table: 



The effect of different fertilizing constituents on yield and starch content of potatoes. 



Applied alone 



With potash 



With nitrogen 



With phosphoric acid 



With phosphoric acid and nitrogen. 

 With potash and phosphoric acid... 

 With potash and nitrogen 



Increase due to 

 potash. 



In yield 

 per hec- 

 tare. 



Kg. 

 15, 250 



18, 850 

 18, 320 

 19, 510 



In starch 

 content. 



Per cent. 

 1.4 



1.2 

 1.5 

 1.6 



Increase due to 

 nitrogen. 



In yield 

 per hec- 

 tare. 



Kg. 



550 

 4,150 



2, 970 



In starch 

 content. 



Per cent. 

 aO.3 

 a .5 



a .3 

 a ".2 



Increase due to 

 phosphoric acid. 



In yield 

 per hec- 

 tare. 



Kg. 



260 

 3,330 

 2,680 



3,340 



In starch 

 content. 



Per cent. 



0.7 



.8 



.7 



Potash is seen to be the most important ingredient of a potato fer- 

 tilizer. Nitrogen and phosphoric acid with potash gave only a small 

 increase in yield over potash alone, and if potash is not included in 

 the formula there is almost no increase. Nevertheless, nitrogen and 

 phosphoric acid are necessary complements of potash, though in small 

 amounts or less frequent applications, for a continued application of 

 potash alone was found to result in a decreased yield. 



Soy beans, a new drought-resisting crop, H. IVI. Cottrell, D. H. 

 Otis, and J. G. Haney {Kansas Sta. Bui. 92, pp. 19-28, figs. 5).— A 

 description is given of the plant, with directions for planting, cultiva- 

 ting, and harvesting. The early yellow soy bean is recommended for 

 planting in Kansas, and it is pointed out that some reported failures 

 have been by reason of planting a late-maturing kind. Planting should 

 be done after danger of fro.st is past, and cultivation should be shallow 

 and level. The crop should be harvested when the pods turn brown 

 and before the beans are wholly ripe. In harvesting, a knife attached 

 to a cultivator and running just below the surface is recommended. 



