Nov., 1912.] ANNUAL REPORTS. 13 



REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 

 AGRONOMY. 



F. W. TAYLOR. 



ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT. 



No important changes in the organization of this department have been 

 made since the last biennial report. The experimental work with fertilizers 

 on potatoes, however, has recently been transferred to this from the Depart- 

 ment of Horticulture. 



Mr. W. L. Slate, Jr., after two years of service resigned the position of 

 Assistant Professor of Agronomy October 10, 1911, to accept a similar one 

 at the University of Maine. He was succeeded by Mr. Frank App (Penn- 

 sylvania State College, '11), who now holds the position in both Station and 

 College. 



In the matter of equipment the most important additions have been the 

 leasing of a plot of fairly uniform soil for experimental work; the fitting up 

 of rooms for mixing and storing fertilizers, and for drying and storing seed 

 corn; also a tool and apparatus room with various minor conveniences. 



HATCH FUND PROJECTS. 

 Ear Row Tests of Corn. 



This work was begun in 1907 with Minnesota 13, a yellow dent type secured 

 from the Minnesota Experiment Station. The objects and outline of the 

 project was printed in the last report. The work with the dent corn is still 

 being continued with very promising results. Last year we obtained a cross 

 known as "N. H. 500" which matured this season in 110 days. By the method 

 of selection and breeding used the earliness of the strain has been increased, 

 with a slight diminution, however, in the size of the stalk and ear. 



In 1912 a similar line of work was begun with flint corn which it is pro- 

 posed to continue for at least seven years for the purpose of increasing the 

 yield and maturity of the best strains of that type. 



Fertilizer Tests on Grass Land. 



The various chemical fertilizers and manures were applied May 6, and 

 the grass cut July 6 and 7, 1911. The average yield of the "no fertilizer" 

 plots was -824 tons per acre. The largest yield was 1.44 tons with an appli- 

 cation of 400 pounds per acre of nitrate of soda. The smallest was .54 

 with an application of 600 pounds per acre of land plaster. 



In 1912 the fertilizers were applied May 2, and the grass cut July 8. The 

 average yield of the "no fertilizer" plots was 1.381 tons per acre. The heavi- 

 est yield was 2.618 tons per acre with an application of 400 pounds of nitrate 

 of soda; the lightest was .94 with 600 pounds per acre of land plaster. No 

 second crops of grass were cut in eilher 1911 or 1912. In May, 1912, an 



