S04 MASwS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 247 



concentrations cause a poor root development often accompanied by 

 symptoms similar to brown root-rot. 



The Effects of Inorganic and Organic Toxins on Tobacco. (.). I'. 



Jones). Studies thus far have been witii aluminum. The results under 

 some conditions have indicated aluminum to be severely toxic, under other.s 

 less so. More work will be necessary under better controlled conditions 

 before the toxicity of aluminum will l)e well understood. 



Onion Investigations 



The Role of Organic Matter in the Production of Onions. (J. l\ 



Jones). The first part of this project has consisted of an effort to grow 

 onions in sand cultures deficient in organic matter. This has not proved 

 possible, and further development of technique will be necessary before 

 definite progress may be reported. The second part of the project has 

 been a study of cover croj^s for onions. Thus far, no benefit to the onion 

 croj) has been sliown from the use of either clovers or grasses as a cover 

 crop. 



Lime in Relation to Onion Growth. (J. P. Jones). Applications of 

 lime have been shown to increase the yields of onions very markedly on 

 acid soils. Much of the onion land of the Valley has been found to be 

 acid, and upon a soil test, recommendations to apply lime are being made 

 quite generally. 



Comparison of Fertilizers Containing Different Amounts of Nitrogen, 

 Phosphoric Acid and Potash for Onions. (J. P. Jones). The outstand- 

 ing result has been the notable response obtained with the fertilizer rela- 

 tively high in phosphoric acid and potash — a 4-12-8. 



Onion Breeding. (J. P. Jones). Notable differences are already ap- 

 pearing in sonic of the strains, but tlie work is too yoimg to rejiort very 

 definite residts. 



The Cause of a Chlorosis of Corn. (,l. I*. Jones). The data show 

 quite conclusively that this chlorosis of corn is due to a lack of magnesium. 

 It can be corrected by applications of high magnesian lime and by mag- 

 nesium sidfate. 



The Relative Efficiency of, Based and Unbased Sulfate of Ammonia as 

 Carriers of Nitrogen .(A. B. BeauiiU)nt). It has been claimed that the mixing 

 of acid jihosjihate and aiumonium sulfate, and the curing of the mixture 

 in storage, a process known to the trade as "basing", produces a product 

 superior to the unbased materials. Extensive pot tests have proved that 

 tliere is no adxantage from this jiroccss so far as jilant growth is concerned. 



Alfalfa Varieties. (A. B. Beaumont). One year's results have shown 

 that certain strains of alfalfa originating in southern climates are not 

 winter-hardy in Massachusetts. Thus far no differences in hardiness at- 

 tributable to dift'erential fertilizer treatment have been detected. 



Ecological Study of Pasture Vegetation. (A. B. Beaumont). Striking 

 changes in tlie character of iiasture xegetation have been secured by toii- 

 dressings of lime, superphosphate and muriate of potash. A weedy growth 

 consisting largely of cinquefoil and moss has been replaced with white 

 clover, bhie grass and redtop. 



The Nitrogen Intake of Certain Grasses and Clovers. (A. B. Beaumont). 

 The pur{>ose of this project is to secure fundamental data on the nutri- 

 tion of the most conmion grasses and clovers relative to nitrogen. No 

 conclusive results have been obtained to date. 



