FIELD CROPS. 683 



A resume is given of the cost of growing sugar beets at other sta- 

 tions which shows a variation of from $33.85 to $60.50 per acre, with 

 an estimate of $35 per acre as the lowest average cost under the most 

 favorable conditions; while the cost of growing corn in Illinois has 

 been reported as $10.51> per acre (E. S. R., 10, p. 5-iO). 



Experiments with barley, roots, and grass lands in 1899, H. C. 

 Sherixc4ham et al. {An7i. Rpt. Field Expts. Irish Agr. Organiza- 

 tion Soc.^ 1 {1890)^ 2U^' ^~V^i fi{l^- 6')- — Barlev was grown in 4 of the 

 more important barley counties of Ireland and fertilized with ditierent 

 commercial fertilizers. Roots were grown in 3 counties, barnyard 

 manure and commercial fertilizers ])eing used, while in 2 others fer- 

 tilizer experiments were made for the improvement of permanent 

 grass lands. The results secured in the barley experiments show the 

 necessity of early seeding (February or early Mdrch), The drills 

 should be 8 in. apart rather than -li in. Chevalier barley is advocated 

 for seed. But little advantage was found in sweating barley for seed 

 purposes. It is recommended that phosphatic manures always be 

 applied with nitrate of soda. After a straw crop nitrogenous manures 

 in moderation should be added to superphosphate and potash manures 

 for barley in order to secure a full crop. Nitrogenous manures 

 should never be applied alone. 



With the root crops it is shown that heav}" dressings of barnyard 

 manure for turnips are not necessary, and that even better crops can 

 be obtained by replacing a portion of the manure with superphos- 

 phate. On heavy soils barnj^ard manure proved of little use, but on 

 porous soils it gave good results, particularly when applied with 

 about 300 to 400 lbs. of superphosphate j)er acre. The experiments 

 also show that turnips can be successfully produced with commercial 

 fertilizers alone. Phosphoric acid is the ingredient they most require 

 and is best supplied in superphosphate. Kainit on light soils appeared 

 to be a profitable manure when used with superphosphate, but on heav}^ 

 soils it was injurious. If barnyard manure is not used, nitrogen in 

 the form of nitrate of soda should be applied. 



The results on the old pasture lands showed in part that a nitroge- 

 nous manure was of but little benefit, while kainit had an inju- 

 rious effect. Phosphatic manures used alone gave excellent results, 

 while the best results were obtained from a judicious mixture of both 

 nitrogenous and phosphatic manures. Sulphate of ammonia and 

 Peruvian guano are considered the best forms of these manures. 



The effect of manures on the percentage composition of the herbage 

 was also studied. The tabulated results show "that the nitrogenous 

 manures produce an injurious effect upon the herbage, reducing the 

 percentage of clover and increasing the percentage of rough, coarse 

 grasses and weeds. On the other hand phosphates and potash, when 

 applied together, and particularly when lime was added to the mix- 



