12 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



New Crops. 



TJie flat pea ( Lathyrus sylvestris) lias not been found to 

 be of value as a fodder crop. 



The horse bean ( Vicia faba) has not lieen found to do 

 well. 



Sorghuin of different varieties appears inferior to Indian 

 corn as a fodder crop. 



SaccaUne is found not to be hardy and will probably not 

 prove of value as a fodder crop. 



Miscelkmeous. 



Fungiroid has not been found effective in preventing 

 potato blight. 



Sulphur applied in the drill did not prevent scab of 

 potatoes. 



The Symmes^ hay cap is preferred to cloth caps. 



Soil Tests. 



Soil tests, upon the plan outlined in previous reports, 

 have been carried on upon a somewhat less extensive scale. 

 We have had four such experiments this year : one with 

 soy beans and one with turnips and cabbages upon our 

 own grounds ; and one in Montague and another in Norwell, 

 with corn. Circumstances compelled the cessation of the 

 work in Concord, Worcester and Shelburne, and it was not 

 considered important to continue it longer in Hadley, as this 

 town lies so near Amherst, and as the soil upon which we 

 were working gave results so entirely similar to those ob- 

 tained upon our own. The main conclusions justified by 

 the results of the past season are as follows : — 



1. Potash is the controlling element in the case of the 

 corn crop in Norwell. 



2. Nitrogen appears to have been the most useful ele- 

 ment for the corn crop in Montague ; but the results are 

 ol^scured in a measure by differences in natural fertility in 

 different parts of the field. 



