FIELD CROPS. 831 



Fertilizer experiments with cotton, G. W. Carvek (Alahama 

 Tuskegee Sta. Bui. 3^ pp. 16, fi<jx. S). — Experiments were made in 

 growing cotton with commercial fertilizers on a soil so exhausted and 

 worn out that cowpeas failed to make a fair growth upon it. Sixteen 

 tenth-acre plats divided into 3 equal series were used m the experi- 

 ments. The series were duplicates except that one received ])urnt 

 lime at the rate of 2,000 lbs. per acre. All the plats were plowed 

 deep and well prepared. Nitrate of soda was used at the rate of 200 

 ll)s. per acre, acid phosphate at the rate of 000 lbs. per acre, and 

 irmi-iate of potash at the rate of 120 to 240 lbs, per acre. These fer- 

 tilizers were used in combinations of two's and three's. In one instance 

 sulphate of potash was used at the rate of 240 l])s. per acre for 

 comparison. 



Sweet potatoes were grown on the plats the first year, and cotton 

 the second. Nitrogen was again added to the plats the second 3'ear, 

 but none of the other fertilizers. The yield of seed cotton on the fer- 

 tilized plats of the unlimed series averaged about 6 times that from 

 the unfertilized plats of the same series; and the yield on the unfer- 

 tilized limed plats was more than double that of the unfertilized plats 

 of the unlimed series. 



Lime used in connection with other fertilizers seemed to have no 

 special effect on the vicld. In these experiments the combination of 

 120 lbs. of muriate of potash and 200 lbs. of nitrate of soda ga^^e the 

 largest net mone}^ returns. All combinations, however, were used at 

 a profit except possibly the plat which was fertilized with phosphoric 

 acid and nitrogen. Sulphate of potash gave slightly better results 

 than muriate. Phosphoric acid used with potash and nitrogen de- 

 creased the yields. Doubling the amount of potash in the formula 

 increased the yields of seed cotton 102 lbs. per acre. 



Notes on cowpea tubercles, C. B. Lane {Netc Jersey Stas. Rjjf. 

 1899, pp. MO, JOl, pi. 1). — The third successive crop of cowpeas is 

 reported upon. The first season but few tubercles were noted and 

 the yield of forage was 6.56 tons per acre. The second 3"ear the 

 tubercles wei'e more abundant and the yield of forage per acre is 

 reported at 7.19 tons. The third season the tubercles grew abun- 

 dantly and the yield of forage per acre is given at 10.02 tons. The 

 fertilizer applied the third season was less than one-half the amount 

 applied the second, and it is believed that the increase is due in a large 

 measure to a greater alnindance of tubercles. 



A special experiment -with forage crops, C. B. Lane {New Jer- 

 sey Stas. Jipf. 1<S'99, pp. 196-199). — The value for forage of a luimber 

 of phmts not common!}" grown at the station was tested. The crops 

 were grown on one-twentieth acre plats and consisted of ?j varieties of 

 corn, Yellow and Rural Branching doura, Earh^ Orange and Early 

 Amber sugar cane, Red and White Kafir corn, teosinte, Evergre(>n 



