436 ' EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



of 2 pk. per acre, jaelded better results than 1 pk. per acre and ahout 

 as good r(\sults as 3, 4, or 5 pk. per acre. 



The rekition of the weather to cowpea production is discussed. In 

 1898 the average production of 5 different varieties of cowpeas was 

 about one-fourth hirger than in 1897. In 1898 the rainfall for the 

 months of June to October, inclusive, was 6.35 in. more and the aver- 

 age temperature 2.4° F. higher than for the same months in 1897, and 

 it was thought the increased 3'ields of cowpeas in 1898 might have 

 been due to these causes. 



A two year's test of 128 varieties of grasses and forage plants, 

 T. L. Lyox ( J r/>/YAs/v/ ,Sta. Rj_>t. lSi)0,pp. I.i2-171). — A report is given 

 on the results of 2 years' testing of 128 varieties of grasses and forage- 

 plant seeds, which were contributed to the station by the Division of 

 Agrostology of this Department. The collection was composed almost 

 entirely of seeds of native or foreign wild grasses and of cultivated 

 foreign grasses, there being very few of the grasses ordinarily culti- 

 vated in that region. The test has continued through 3 summers and 

 2 winters, and while not long enough time has elapsed to indicate with 

 any degree of certainty the value of any of these grasses for this 

 region, it is demonstrated that a large number can not be successfully 

 grown. Of the number tested only 16 have survived the entire period 

 of the test, as follows: Agrojpyron repens^ A. tenerwn^ Arrhenatherum 

 elatlus^ Broinus ciluitns, B. inermis, B. tectorum^ B. unioloides^ 

 Elyinus canadensis, E. glaucifolias, E. virginicus^ Eragrostis trichodes^ 

 Festuca elatior arundinacea, F. ovina durluscula^ F. ovina elatior, 

 F. ovina sulcata., F. elatior pratensis., Hordeum pratense^ and Stipa 

 rolnista. 



The influence of chlorin and other compounds in crude Stass- 

 furt salts on the composition and yield of potatoes, B. Sjollema 

 [Jour. Landw., ^7 (1899), No. ^, pp. 305-357). — Investigations were 

 made on the effect of chlorin compounds on the composition and 3neld 

 of potatoes, with special reference to those found in crude Stassfurt 

 salts. The article contains, besides an account of the author's experi- 

 ments, a review and discussion of the results ol)tained l)y other inves- 

 tigators along the same lines. Potassium chlorid, sodium chlorid, and 

 magnesium chlorid lowered the starch content materiall}^ each to 

 about the same extent. The reduction was greatest in the case of 

 varieties relatively rich in starch. New varieties and those making a 

 heavy growth of tops were especially sensitive to chlorids. 



Investigations on the chlorin content of potato tul^ei's showed that 

 it is increased by the application of chlorids in the spring. With the 

 higher chlorin content of the tuber is associated a higher water con- 

 tent and a lower starch content. The potash cojitent of the entire 

 tu))er was about the same whether the chlorid or the sulphate was 

 applied, l)ut the potash content of the dry matter was nuich higher in 



