330 EXPEEIMENT STATION KECORD. 



affected by freezing, and gives better results on strongly alkaline soils. In the East, 

 however, where there is a heavy rainfall and where heavy soils i^redonnnate, this 

 variety seems to be little, if any, superior to the French or Chilean varieties; in fact, 

 it seems certain that, in some localities at least, it is less valuable. In the South so 

 few tests have been made that no definite conclusions can be drawn, the reports 

 from some sections Ijeing favorable to the Turkestan alfalfa, while those from others 

 indicate that the commonly grown varieties are the most valuable. In the extreme 

 Southwest the results are as yet quite contradictory, and further experimentation is 

 needed. 



"The seed of Turkestan alfalfa will germinate much quicker and the plants start 

 into growth earlier under the san:ie conditions than common alfalfa. The plants are 

 more leafy, grow more rapidly, and have a stronger, more vigorous root system. 

 Another advantage which the Turkestan variety has is that the stems are more 

 slender and less woody, the plants making a more nutritious hay of finer quality. 

 That it will withstand drought under the same conditions better than ordinary alfalfa 

 seems certain from the reports of the experimenters. In the West and Nortliwest, 

 at least, it seems to be more prodn<'tive, both with and without irrigation." 



Experiments -with three varieties of corn, C. B. Lane {JYeiv Jer- 

 sey Stas. Rpt. 1899, pp. Wl, W2).—T\iKi relative value of Southern 

 White, Learning, and Early Klondike field corn and their adaptability 

 to the soil and climate of the station were studied. The results as 

 regards 3'ield of stover and grain are shown in tabular form. "The 

 Southern White variety gave highest yields of Ijoth corn and stover, 

 although the proportion of cobs to shelled corn was 2-i per cent, or T 

 per cent higher than the Learning and 8 per cent higher than the 

 Klondike." The total yield of ears of this variety was 133 Iju. per 

 acre. Learning variety yielded 115 bu. per acre and Klondike iU bu. 

 per acre. 



Fertilizer experiments -with corn on -washed land, C. A. Mooers 

 {Tennessee Std. Rpt. 1S09. pp. ol-oS). — Corn was grown in 1809 on 

 land that had lost the greater part of its surface soil b}^ an overflow of 

 the Tennessee River in 1875. Nitrate of soda and nmriate of potash 

 at the rate of 160 lbs. each per acre, and double this amount of acid 

 phosphate, were used alone and combined in two's and three's as fer- 

 tilizers. Stable manure at the rate of 5,000 lbs. per acre was used in 

 some instances, combined with either potash, acid phosphate, or both. 

 The results are tabulated and the profit or loss on the different plats 

 calculated. The largest yield per acre, 32.4 bu., and greatest net 

 profit, $3.55, were obtained from the plat fertilized with stable manure 

 and acid phosphate. 



'J'he ratio of stover to corn on the diUerent plats was especially inves- 

 tigated. On the plat without fertilizer, the ratio was in the propor- 

 tion of 3:1. This unl^sually wide ratio was not due to large stocks but 

 to sterility, duo in a larg(> measure to deficiencies of nitrogen and 

 phosphoric acid in the soil, as was shown by analyses of the soil from 

 productive and nonproductive ear-bearing plats. A smaller amount 

 than usual of these same elements was also found in the nonear- 

 bearing stalks when analyzed. 



