18 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 378 



As would be expected, the three Hniestones of intermediate fineness 

 produced changes of reaction between the two extremes. No consistent 

 difference in effect was apparent between these intermediate grades except 

 on one soil when they were applied at the 6-ton rate; then slight differ- 

 ences in soil reaction due to relative fineness of these limes became ap- 

 parent. 



3. Subsequent determinations made after an eight-month interval re- 

 vealed varying rates of nitrate formation and accumulation, which in- 

 creased the soil acidity. This was most pronounced where the finest limes 

 had been applied, but occurred also to a marked extent in the check soil 

 of initial pH 5.4 which at the end of the eight months had dropped to 

 pH 4.3. If the nitrates had been removed from the soil solution by grow- 

 ing plants, the results might have presented a slightly truer picture of 

 the effect of fineness of lime material in changing soil reaction. 



Borax Trials on Alfalfa. (Ralph W. Donaldson, Walter S. Eisenmenger, 

 and William G. Colby.) Borax, topdressed on 16 alfalfa stands in the 

 state, and applied during November 1939 in strips at the rate of 25 pounds 

 to the acre, controlled alfalfa yellowing on fields where it appeared after 

 removal of the first crop of 1940. No yellowing was apparent in the early- 

 season growth of the crop. 



A yellowing of terminal leaflets, occasional bronzing, and more or less 

 stunting developed on maturing plants of both the second and third growth 

 of alfalfa located on approximately half the fields included in this investi- 

 gation. These symptoms did not appear on the borax-treated strips, on 

 which the plants stood out in contrast, showing better growth and normal 

 color. These symptoms of boron deficiency did not develop during the 

 early season when the rainfall was high but were associated apparently 

 with the drier period of insufficient rainfall and later drought conditions 

 prevailing until autumn frosts. Moreover, those fields which showed 

 symptoms of boron deficiency were found to be predominantly those 

 located on soils of the lighter texture (Merrimac). Little or no evidence 

 of response to borax was observed this season on alfalfa located mostly 

 on heavier soils, presumed to be of higher moisture content. 



Symptoms of boron deficiency developed on plots of alfalfa which had 

 received muriate of potash, 300 pounds to the acre, for three consecutive 

 years. Since an application of borax corrected this trouble, it follows 

 that muriate of potash in the amount applied did not correct a condition 

 of boron deficiency in this case. 



When borax (20, 30, 50, and 50 pounds to the acre) was applied in July 

 at the time of seeding alfalfa and Ladino clover, temporary leaf injury 

 and stunting of seedlings of both the legumes and weeds resulted at rates 

 above 30 pounds to the acre. However, no injurious effect was observed 

 the following season in character of stand or of growth from any rates 

 of the borax applied. The soil was of limestone origin with pH around 

 the neutral point. 



