May 27, 1918 



Boron 



465 



treated plot was greater than from the 16- or 24-ton borax-manure 

 plots, while in the colemanite and control plots the weights of 100 heads 

 from the three plots of each series were very uniform. It is evident 

 that the grain from the control plots was better filled out than from the 

 other plots, and an examination of a large number of heads from all 

 plots proved this to be so. 



In brief, the fact that the heads of rye were not filled as well from the 

 two series of boron-manured plots as from the controls and the slight 

 red coloration of the plants during the first few weeks of growth are the 

 only e\adences obtained of any injurious action of boron. The total 

 yields of straw and grain appeared to be influenced by the amounts of 

 manure rather than by the boron added to the soil, the yields from the 

 three plots heavily treated with manure being much lower than from 

 the three plots receiving light applications of manure.^ 



Table XII. — Analyses of rye, dry basis, Betkesda, Md., igi6 



HEADS 



Boric acid added to upper 6 inches of soil. 



Per cent. 



o.ooi76asborax(i6-ton plot) 



0.00264 as borax (24-ton plot) 



0.0044 as borax (40-ton plot) 



0.00232 as colemanite (16- ton plot) 

 C.00348 as colemanite (24-ton plot) 

 0.0058 as colemanite (40-ton plot) . 



16-ton control plot 



24-ton control plot 



40-ton control plot 



Total boron 



as bone acid 



fotmd. 



Per cent. 

 o. 0001 

 . 0002 

 . 0006 

 . 0004 

 . 0003 

 . 0004 

 . 0001 

 . 0001 

 . 00015 



STRAW 



o.ooi76as borax (16-ton plot) 



0.00264 as borax (24-ton plot) 



0.0044 as borax (40-ton plot) 



0.00232 as colemanite (16-ton plot) 

 0.00348 as colemanite (24-ton plot) 

 0.0058 as colemanite (40- ton plot) . 



16-ton control plot 



24-ton control plot 



40-ton control plot 



o. 00055 

 . 001 10 

 . 00196 

 . 00022 



• 00035 



. 00080 

 Trace. 

 . 0001 

 . 0002 



" Straw beaten down by wind and rain. 



' The moisture and fat results for the rye heads reported in Table XII 

 are very uniform. The nitrogen results show a decided rise with the 

 increased amounts of manure added to the borax-manure and control 

 plots. More boric acid was found in the rye heads grown on the 40-ton 



» The assistance of Mr. R. H. Hutchison, of the Bureau of Entomology, in supervising the planting and 

 harvesting of the rye and in reporting the findings to the writer is greatefully acknowledged. 



49388°— 18 3 



