V)36 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



fertilizers on another plat the yield was at the rate of 2.24 tons per 

 acre. And when 450 ll)s. was so added on a third plat the yield was 

 increased to 8.28 tons. The use of the 150 lbs. of nitrate of soda 

 resulted in increasing the financial profits $6.94 per acre and the use 

 of 450 lbs. in an increased value of $1().08 per acre. It is thouoht 

 that this prolit might have been greater had only 350 or 400 ll)s. of 

 nitrate of soda been used. 



The relative proportion of timothy hay was decidedly increased by 

 the nitrate of soda. "This was probably due largely to tiie i-emoval 

 of the nitric acid by the plants and the lessening of the soil acidity b}' 

 the soda which was thus left behind." 



Early applications of nitrate of soda to force growth, l)y placing at 

 the disposal of the plants when moisture in the soil is abundant an 

 immediate supply of availal)le nitrogen, is believed to be especially 

 A'aluable for grass in seasons of drought. 



Reports on various seeds and plants included in the university 

 distribution, E. J. Wic;kson {('(illforiua Std. Rj^tf. 1<S9S^ j'P- -^-^^J- 

 iifjj). — This includes lirief reports 1)}^ the station and statements of 

 farmers regarding the growth and value of a num])e]' of plants and 

 seeds distributed by the station. 



Roselle {Illhiscus ftahdai'iffa) promises to be of nmch xalue for jelly- 

 making where currants do not thrive. It makes large returns in 

 localities wherever there is a long frostless season combined with high 

 summer heat. The local trials of fenugreek {Trigonella fo&nimx giw- 

 carn) seem to indicate that the plant endures as low temperatures as it 

 is likely to encounter in most valle}' situations, and is promising as a 

 green manuring plant. Hairy vetch ( Vicia villom) promises to be one 

 of the best winter- growing plants, l)oth for forage and green manure 

 purposes, in California. Besides hardiness against frost, it has a 

 marked drought resistance. The mealy saltbush {Atrij>lex halimoide^s) 

 gives promise of surpassing in value even the Australian salthush 

 {A. seiii/ihaccata) on dry lands, and gives indications of being of value 

 in so-called desert situations. 



Other plants i-eported upon are Jerusalem artichokes. Jei-sey kale, 

 oat grass, Texas ))lue grass, brome grasses, l)ulfal() gi'ass, edible pod 

 pea, Washington market s\veet corn, carrots, climbing French bean, 

 flat pea. etc. 



Note on the gro-wtli of lupines on calcareous lands, K. A\'. Hil- 

 GARi) {(kdifornia Sta. Rpt. ]898, pj). '225, 226).—Th\>^ note states that 

 in the experience of the author lupines planted in the s])ring iiave 

 given very unsatisfactor}' results on clayey and sandy soils. This sea- 

 son a test of sowing lupines in the fall, ga\'e very good results. The 

 soil upon which this test was made contain(^d 35 per cent of clay and 

 fully 1 per cent of carbonate of lime and magnesia. The results of 

 experiments with hij)ines made by Ileinricli (E. 8. li., 8, p. IMJlt). which 



