64 



T. Lyttleton Lyon and James A. Bizzell 



Experiments in 1912 



The plats used in 1911 were planted in 1912 to the same kinds of crops 

 that were grown on them in the previous year. It was thought that this 

 might give a cumulative effect of the crop on the soil. As before, the 

 middle sections of the plats were not planted. In one respect the plats 

 were different from those used in 1910 and 1911, in which cases the entire 

 plats had been planted to some crop in the preceding years. The middle 

 sections had therefore been fallowed for two years. As a result of the 

 fallow of the previous year the nitrates in the middle sections were much 

 higher in spring than those in the planted sections, except in the mulched 

 maize plats where the difference was not great. 



The arrangement of the plats and their treatment, as given below, differed 

 only in time of planting and harvesting from that of 1911: 



Plat 



Crop and soil treatment 



2201 2209 2401 2409 



Maize planted May 22. Mulched 



2202, 2210, 2402, 2410 



Maize planted May 22. Scraped 



2203, 2211, 2403, 2411 



Maize planted May 22. Cultivated all summer 



2204, 2212, 2404, 2412 



Maize planted May 22, harvested August 20, and 



2205, 2213, 2405, 2413 



allowed to regrow. Cultivated all summer 

 Maize planted July 5, harvested August 20. Cultivated 



2206,2214, 2406,2414 



2207, 2215, 2407, 2415 



2208,2216, 2408, 2416 



all summer 

 Potatoes planted May 23. Cultivated 

 Oats planted May 21. Cultivated after harvest 

 Oats planted May 21, followed by maize. Cultivated 



the maize 



The temperature during the growing season was somewhat below normal. 

 The first half of July was the warmest part of the summer. Rainfall was 

 deficient in June and July and the yield of oats was lessened by the drought. 

 Growth continued later than usual in the autumn because of the warm, 

 moist weather in September. Potatoes were fully mature about the middle 

 of September and maize was harvested on October 20, except on the early- 

 harvested plats. 



No manure nor fertilizer was applied to the soil. The growth of all 

 crops was normal but the yields were not large. 



