236 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 271 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY 

 A. B. Beaumont in Charge 



Nitrogen Assimilation by Grasses and Clovers. (A. B. Beaumont and 

 G. Rohde). Additional evidence obtained from solution cultures showed 

 that blue grass, timothy, redtop, English rye grass, and red and alsike 

 clovers assimilated nitrate nitrogen better tlian that from ammonium 

 sulfate and urea, as judged by growth. In the early stages there was 

 little difference in the growth of the several grasses, but differences ap- 

 peared in the later stages. With the clovers, the differences due to form 

 of nitrogen appeared earlier and were more pronounced. 



Ecological Study of Pasture Vegetation. (A. B. Beaumont, E. F. Gas- 

 kill and R. W. Donaldson). The old experiments have been continued and 

 new ones added for the purpose of comparing different carriers of nitro- 

 gen and different amounts of lime and other calcium compounds. Results 

 of this year indicate that very little effect may be expected from minerals 

 (lime, phosphoric acid and potash) the same y^ar they are apjilied as a 

 toi)-dressing, whereas all forms of nitrogen used are more or less effec- 

 tive the first year. Similar evidence regarding response to minerals and 

 a nitrogen fertilizer (Chilean nitrate of soda) were obtained from ten out- 

 lying fields in Worcester County. 



Additional Pasture Experiments. (A. B. Beaumont, R. E. Stitt and 

 R. C. Foley). In a palatability test it was found that two Holstein cows 

 chose pasturage as follows: (1), white clover; (2), timothy; (3), redtop; 

 (I), blue grass. There was little if any effect of different fertilizer treat- 

 ments on palatability although there was some indication that grass from 

 plots which received the largest amount of nitrogen was preferred by the 

 animals. On certain of the Hohenheim plots it was likewise observed that 

 seedings containing a high proportion of timothy were preferred by dairy 

 animals. 



In an experiment in which two carriers of nitrogen were used as toi>- 

 dressing for a mossy pasture, it was observed that Chilean nitrate of soda 

 acted as a mild toxin for moss. To a con.siderable extent moss was per- 

 manently killed witiiout injuring the desirable vegetation. 



Legume Veriety Tests. (A. B. Beaumont and R. E. Stitt, cooperatinsr 

 with E. A. Hollowell, Bur. of Plant Indus. LT. S. D. A.). 

 Alfalfa. — Test No. 1 was brought to a close on account of weediness, and 

 llie field plowed after spring data on stand were obtained. These data 

 v.ere in substantial agreement with those reported last year. The ex- 

 periment has shown that for a ]ieriod of at least three years the com- 

 mon varieties of alfalfa coming from such states as L^tah, Kansas, 

 and the Dakotas may be expected to be in the same class as Grimm 

 and other variegated varieties as respects winter-hardiness. Test No. 

 2 also was terminated on account of weediness (mainly grasses). This 

 lest has given dat.-i on winter-hardiness similar to those of Test No. 1, 

 but covering more varieties. Ludak, Turkestan and Arizona were definitely 

 poor in stand after two winters; California, South African, and Colorado 

 v.ere good; and Grimm, Ontario, Hungarian, Dakota Common, Hardigan, 

 Disco, New Mexico, Italian, Utah, Kansas, and French were the best. 



