ANNUAL REPORT, 1930 209 



pearlwort (Sa(]ina procumbens) liave been started and shoidd prove of value 

 to growers of fine turf. 



The series of plots established in cooperation with tiic United States 

 Golf Association is furnishing data particularly valuable to golf-course 

 management and of equal use to cemetery and park superintendents. The 

 soil of the plots is of clay loam, thus furnishing unusual opportunities for 

 observations concerning earthworms and the growth of grass as affected 

 by the compactness of the soil. These plots are also giving information 

 regarding the effect of fertilizers on weed invasion. 



Several additional species of grasses have been placed in the trial plots. 



DEPARTMENT OF PLANT AND ANIMAL CHEMISTRY 

 J. B. Lindsey in Charge 



The Effect of Fertilizer and Cultural Treatment on the Nitrogenous 

 Compounds of Havana Seed Leaf. (E. B. Holland and E. Bennett). An- 

 alytical work on the several grades of Havana tobacco grown on the ex- 

 periment station plots under different fertilization and cultural treatment 

 has been continued. The plants were harvested at different stages of 

 growth, cured on the stalk, stripped and sorted. After the midrib and 

 several coarse laterals had been removed, the residual web was ground 

 and analyzed, with attention directed largely to the nitrogenous com- 

 poimds. In many instances the number of replications was insufficient 

 to establish a positive trend. Furthermore, seasonal variations in growth 

 and curing and possible differences in drawing and sorting small samples 

 have to be considered. The following deductions seem warranted. 



(1) The percentage of total, soluble, and amido nitrogen increased 

 in the several grades from the base of the plant upwards; the nicotine 

 increased from the base of the stalk to the light or medium wrappers, and 

 the acid soluble and insoluble ash decreased. 



(2) Low topping increased the percentage of total nitrogen, soluble 

 nitrogen, nicotine and acidity in seconds and reduced the acid soluble and 

 insoluble ash. 



(3) The percentage of total, soluble, and ammoniacal nitrogen, acid 

 soluble ash and acidity decreased with maturity in seconds and darks, 

 while nicotine and insoluble ash increased. 



(4) An increase in applied nitrogen increased total nitrogen, soluble 

 nitrogen and acid soluble ash within narrow limits, but as a whole affected 

 the yield and size of leaf rather than composition. 



(.5) Nitrate of soda and sulfate of ammonia increased the total nitro- 

 gen in seconds more than the regular tobacco fertilizer mixture or cotton- 

 seed meal. Nitrate nitrogen and nicotine were low on cottonseed meal. 

 Sidfate of ammonia increased acidity as would be expected, and nitrate of 

 soda gave the least acidity. 



(6) Timothy in the rotation increased the percentage of soluble nitrogen, 

 ammoniacal nitrogen, nicotine and acidity and reduced the percentage of 

 acid soluble ash. 



