14 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 315 



suitable for parent stock to be grown from limited amounts of seed than where 

 planted directly in the field. It was interesting to observe the marked uniformity 

 of top growth of these transplants from seed which had been inbred for several 

 generations. There was also an opportunity to observe differences in time of 

 normal maturity, which is very seldom possible with onions which are grown from 

 seed sown in the field. The onions grown from sets were also very good in some 

 cases, but frequently a strong tendency to develop seed stalks and multiple bulbs 

 was observed. This is very good evidence that heredity plays an important part 

 in this respect. Several of the strains were sufficiently lacking in one or both ten- 

 dencies to indicate that much can be done by way of selection to reduce this un- 

 desirable though natural tendency of set onions. 



Study of Base-Exchange Power and Base Content of Typical Connecticut 

 Valley Soils as Influenced by Heavy Liming and Fertilization. (J. L. Haddock 

 and H. H. Coyle, Jr.) It has been recognized for many years that soils differ in 

 many ways and that all cannot profitably be handled in the same way. In spite 

 of this rather universal understanding we diagnose the trouble and apply the 

 remedy for all soils in a blanket manner regardless of the soil under consideration. 



During the spring and summer of 1934, an investigation of three of the most 

 prominent and intensively cultivated soil series of the Connecticut Valley was 

 begun. The object of this investigation was to determine: (1) the possibility of 

 characterizing each soil series as to its possible strength or weakness in available 

 bases; (2) the effect of cropping and fertilization upon the base-exchange Ca, 

 Mg, K, and Na, in the various horizons; (3) the degree of base-saturation in the 

 various horizons of cropped and natural soils of the same series. 



The study thus far has indicated that in spite of heavy fertilizer and lime 

 treatment the exchange-bases remain remarkably constant, even on light, sandy 

 soils. The greatest influence on the availability of these bases seems to be the 

 total exchange power of the soil. This is, of course, influenced by texture and 

 soil humus. 



The Absorption by Food Plants of Chemical Elements of Importance in Human 

 Nutrition. (A. B. Beaumont in cooperation with E. B. Holland.) A new project 

 under this title was started in the spring of 1934. Spinach and white egg turnips 

 were grown in succession in a fine sandy loam placed in cement tanks. In an 

 attempt to increase the absorption by the plants of certain elements, increasing 

 quantities of chemically pure compounds were applied to the soil in addition to a 

 uniform application of a fertilizer containing N, P and K. Allowances were made 

 in the fertilizer for K and P in the additional material. Aside from the uniform 

 fertilizer treatment, the applications were as follows: 



Kg per hectare 



f 2000 



Calcium sulfate \ 4000 



(CaS0 4 .2H.,0) [ 6000 



( 1464.5 



Calcium phosphate, primary { 1929.0 



(Ca(H.,POj),.H,0) { 4393.5 



f 8 



Potassium iodide (KI) \ 16 



24 



