65 - 



PURPOSE OF EXPERIMEKT 



In the experiment herein treated it was not proposed 

 to study all the possible causes of injury which weeds produce 

 when growing in corn. The chief efforts were confined to the 

 effects of weeds on the soil moisture and the fertilizer con- 

 tents of the soil . Fxirther variations were produced in the 

 experiment by scraping and mulching the siorf ace of the soil . 

 As the experiment progressed other variations than those inclu- 

 ded in the plan developed. Although a consideration of some of 

 these other factors may not be strictly in line with the pur- 

 pose of the experiment, their inclusion is neverthSless believed 

 to be warrented. 



GENERAL PLAN OF Tj^ EXPERIMENT 

 The plan of the experiment included the following 

 comparisons: 



Fertilization vs No fertilization 

 "Weeds" " No "Weeds" 



Small growth of "Weeds"" Larger growth of "Weeds" 

 Cultivation " Mulch 



Cultivation " Scraping of surface 



Nitrate of soda, acid phosphate, and sulphate of pot- 

 ash were applied to plats singly. For weeds millet was used in 

 the main line of the experiment. Soy beans were used as a var- 

 iation. One plat was mulched and one merely had the weeds cut 

 at the surface of the ground, taking care to leavfer - no mulch. 



