14 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 305 



stalks and roots when the plant was ready to cut. The rate of decomposition 

 was about the same for corn, timothy and red clover. The tobacco decomposed 

 most readily, and the red top least of all. 



The nitrogen of tobacco in the filtrate was for the most part protein and am- 

 monia nitrogen, and the red top content resembled the tobacco in this respect 

 to a degree. Corn, timothy, and clover contained, in addition to ammonia and 

 protein, apprefciable amino acids, amide, and humus nitrogen. 



There was an analogy between those plants causing brown root-rot of tobacco 

 and the N content of the infusions. 



Fine Turf Grasses. (L. S. Dickinson.) Further extensive studies are being 

 made concerning the need of pre-seeding fertilization of turf areas. These 

 experiments are being conducted on typical fine turf soil, and turf is growing 

 under natural conditions. The results confirm those obtained in 1931 and 1932 

 and indicate that on normal soils a single phosphorus carrier is ail the pre-seeding 

 fertilizer necessary or desirable for fine turf grasses. 



A cooperative experiment has been conducted to compare the value, to turf 

 growers, of American peats and leaf molds with that of foreign peats, when mixed 

 with various t>pes of soil. The results obtained show no evidence in favor of 

 foreign peats. 



Through the sponsorship of Merck and Company, chemists, studies have 

 been made of the value of the fungicide, Laboratory Number R. T.-50, for the 

 control of certain fungous diseases of turf grasses. This fungicide was found 

 to compare very favorably in effectiveness with the mercury fungicides commonly 

 used, and the fact that it is neither poisonous, corrosive, nor caustic is a distinct 

 advantage. 



COOPERATIVE TOBACCO INVESTIGATIONS 



Conducted by the Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agri- 

 culture, in Cooperation with the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station. 

 C. V. Kightlinger. U. S. D. A., in Charge. 



Black Root-Rot. (C. V. Kightlinger.) In continued investigation, numerous 

 strains of Havana Seed tobacco were grown in the field during 1932 (the third 

 year of the investigation), in the attempt to find strains of Havana Seed which 

 may be satisfactory under Connecticut Valley conditions, for resistance to black 

 root-rot, type of plant, type and quality of leaf, and producing capacity. 



One strain was Havana Seed of the sort that is grown commonly in the Connect- 

 icut Valley, which is known to be susceptible to black root-rot, but is acceptable 

 for type of plant and t\ pe and quality of leaf produced. This strain was used 

 as a standard of comparison for type. One strain was Havana Seed 142A3, 

 which is known to be satisfactorily resistant to black root -rot. This strain was 

 used as a standard of comparison for such resistance. Of the new black root-rot 

 resistant strains of Havana Seed tested in 1932, six were grown for the first time 

 in 1930, seven for the first time in 1931, and eight for the first time in 1932. 

 In one case these strains were all grown on land which was free or nearly free of 

 Thielavia basicola, the fungus which causes black root-rot of tobacco. In another 

 case the strains were all grown on land which was heavily infested with this fungus. 

 Eleven of the new strains were selected for further testing in 1933. 



The production of these eleven resistant strains and their checks, in 1932, 

 was as follows: 



