1923.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 9a 



Samples of wood growth were taken in the autumn of 1921 from the two potash plots 

 and analyses have been made. Pentozan determinations by the furfurol method failed 

 to indicate a higher content on the hardier plants from the sulfate plots. Studies by 

 Professor Clark on herbaceous plants gave negative results. 



Soil M.^nagement and Fertilizer Tests. 



Agriculture Project 1. "Comparison of nitrogenous fertilizers." 



Assistant Professor Gaskill. 



This field has the longest continuous history of any now in the control of the Experi- 

 ment Station. Unfortunately, however, three plots have had to be discontinued, 

 namely, the two which received nitrate of soda as the source of nitrogen, and the one 

 treated annually with barnyard manure. The proximity of the new chemical labora- 

 tory^ may, indeed, make it necessary to discontinue the whole project. 



Agriculture Project 3. "Residual value of excess phosphate applications." 



Assistant Professor Gaskill. 



In the project attempt is being made to utilize reserves of phosphoric acid built up in 

 the soil from past fertilizer treatment. During the season just past, the crop of hay 

 produced on residual phosphorus was so nearly like that on the area having current ap- 

 plications, as to indicate rather marked utilization of phosphoric acid reserves. 



Agriculture Project 4. "Methods of applying lime, and quantity of applica- 

 tion." 



Assistant Professor Gaskill. 



No crop was produced on this field during the season just past, owing to the failure 

 of the alfalfa seeding on account of wet weather. 



Agriculture Project 6. "Top-dressing permanent grasslands." 



Assistant Professor Gaskill. 



The crop of 1922 is the second in this test. The experiment will be discontinued after 

 the 1923 crop is harvested, as it should then be possible to estimate the cost of bringing 

 back "run-out" mowings through resort to commercial fertilizer top-dressing rather 

 than to plowing and reseeding. 



Agriculture Project 7. "An attempt to restore productive fertility to worn-out 

 and maltreated soils." 



Assistant Professor Gaskill. 



The use of a ton per acre of a complete fertilizer of an approximate 5-8-8 grade ga,ve 

 marked results in the second year of an attempt to "bring back" land which had reached 

 the lowest level of infertility. The crop was mangels, late sown. On land which had 

 become so poor as to give scarcely more than five bushels of corn to the acre, the yield 

 was 18 tons; while where the land had received manure every year for thirty years, the 

 yield was only 20 tons. On land unfertilized and unmanured for thirty j-ears, crops of 

 12 to 15 tons were secured. 



Botany Project 13. "Ecological study of pasture vegetation." 



Professor Osmun and Director Haskell. 



The use of chemical fertilizers and lime on areas of an old permanent pasture badly 

 infested with running cinquefoil and with moss resulted in a rapid change of the pre- 

 dominant vegetation to white clover. The combination of potash and phosphoric acid 

 was most effective, although maximum effect was not obtained without the use of lime 

 applied as a top-dressing. Thus far it has been impossible to measure the effect of 

 nitrogen. The precise relationship between the occurrence of certain plants and nu- 

 trient conditions as influenced by artificial treatments has not yet been developed. 



