February, 1930] agricultural experiments 1929 23 



Prince and T. G. Phillips, deal with growing hay on neglected hay lands, 

 growing legumes on old hay lands, dairy farm rotations on old hay lands, 

 potatoes in a three-year rotation, and legume experiments in the Connecti- 

 cut Valley. The plots are located on the Carter Farm at Boscawen, the 

 Whenal Farm at Greenland, the Jackson Farm at Colebrook, and the 

 Livingston Farm at Claremont. 



On Neglected Hay Lands 



The season of 1929 was one of deficient rainfall, and the yields of the 63 

 plots on the neglected hay lands on the Whenal Farm in Greenland were 

 considerably less than in 1928. 



Nitrate of soda failed to give a significant increase either on the old sod 

 or on the manured plots, but the unmanured plots responded significantly. 

 Super-phosphate failed to give significant increases either on the manured 

 or unmanured plots. It is now evident that the available phosphorus 

 content of this soil is ample for the normal production of timothy hay 

 after a stand once has been secured. When used together, nitrate of soda 

 and super-phosphate gave a significant increase, but this response is in the 

 main due to the nitrogen rather than the phosphorus in the mixture. 



Fertilizing Alfalfa 



During the fall of 1928, a season of heavy rainfall, the alfalfa on the 48 

 twentieth-acre plots on the Whenal Farm was attacked by leaf spot 

 disease which weakened the plants. This was followed by an open winter 

 with little snow and much ice which reduced the stand, although quite 

 uniformly. Chemical fertilizers were apphed about May 1, 1929. No 

 manure or lime has been applied since the original application in May, 

 1926, when all plots received a basic application of 20 tons manure and 2 

 tons of limestone an acre. 



All treatments significantly increased the size of the first cutting, except 

 2 tons limestone and 100 pounds nitrate of soda, while in the second cut- 

 ting all increases are significant except those which resulted from: 100 

 pounds nitrate of soda ; 2 tons limestone ; 500 pounds of super-phosphate ; 

 or 2 tons limestone and 500 pounds super-phosphate. The other, more 

 successful treatments on an acre basis: 150 pounds muriate of potash; 20 

 tons manure; 20 tons manure and 2 tons limestone; 20 tons manure and 

 500 pounds super-phosphate; 20 tons manure, 2 tons limestone and 500 

 pounds super-phosphate; 20 tons manure, 2 tons limestone, 100 pounds 

 nitrate of soda and 500 pounds super-phosphate; 20 tons manure, 2 tons 

 limestone, 500 pounds super-phosphate and 150 pounds muriate of potash; 

 and 20 tons manure, 2 tons limestone, 100 pounds nitrate of soda, 500 

 pounds super-phosphate, and 150 pounds muriate of potash. 



Analyses of the second cuttings of alfalfa were 2 to 4 per cent higher in 

 protein than analyses of first cuttings. 



Fertilizing Sweet Clover 



On the sweet clover plots significant increases were obtained from treat- 

 ments of 2 tons limestone and 500 pounds super-phosphate in combina- 

 tion; 20 tons manure and 2 tons limestone; 20 tons manure and 500 

 pounds super-phosphate; 20 tons manure, 500 pounds super-phosphate, 

 and 2 tons limestone; and from 20 tons manure, 2 tons limestone, 500 

 pounds super-phosphate, and 150 pounds muriate of potash. 



