﻿10 BULLETIN 1126, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The following conclusions can be drawn from the potato experi- 

 ment: Borax in quantities of 4 pounds per acre and less was stimu- 

 lating, in harmony with the effect of small quantities of poisons 

 generally; the 5 and 10 pound applications showed no unusual effects; 

 the application of 20 pounds per acre affected germination and 

 reduced the yield when the fertilizer was applied in the drill and 

 the potatoes planted immediately; 30 pounds decreased the growth 

 where the fertilizer was applied in the drill and the planting delayed; 

 and 50 pounds were injurious to germination and depressed the yield 

 where trie fertilizer was sown broadcast. 



EFFECT OF BORAX ON CORN. 



The experiment with corn differed from that with beans and pota- 

 toes in that each plat was three rows instead of one, which made the 

 area for each treatment one-ninetieth of an acre instead of one 

 two-hundred-and-se ventieth. The fertilizer was applied on May 3 , and 

 the seed planted in sections 2 and 3 on that date, while planting in 

 section 1 was delayed until May 12. 



The corn was planted thick, using approximately the same number 

 of grains in each plat, afterwards thmning to a stand of 105 plants per 

 section. Before thmning, a record was made of the number of plants 

 which had come up in each plat and the average height of the plants 

 was taken on that date. Notes made 25 days after the seeds were 

 planted (on May 28) showed that in section 2 there was a decided 

 difference in the color of the young plants where 2 and 3 pounds per 

 acre of borax were used. Where 5 pounds were used they were 

 badly discolored and the leaves were slightly curled. In the 10- 

 pound plat the leaves were badly bleached. In section 3, where the 

 fertilizer was sown broadcast, there was no leaf discoloration or bleach- 

 ing with any quantity under 10 pounds per acre. This characteristic 

 effect was very marked where 20 pounds were used. 



A representative plant from each plat in section 2 is shown in Plate 

 I, Figures 2 and 3. Here the characteristic effect of borax is shown. 

 The records showing its effect on germination and on the plant in 

 the early stages of growth, together with the final yields of stover and 

 corn, are given in Table 4. 



Borax in quantities as low as 4 pounds per acre slightly depressed 

 the yield of both stover and corn when the fertilizer was applied 

 in the drill. Quantities larger than this decreased the yield con- 

 siderably more. The use of 20 pounds was very detrimental, and 

 there was an utter failure where 100 pounds were applied. 



In the section sown broadcast 20 pounds per acre caused some 

 decrease in yield; the 50-pound application was very harmful; and 

 there was no growth at all where 200 and 400 pounds were used. 



Plates V and VI show the corn in section 2 photographed on July 9. 

 The corn in the 3-pound borax plat had not made as much growth as 

 in the no-borax plat, and the corn in the 10-pound plat was a great 

 deal smaller at this stage of its growth than the corn in the no-borax 



Elat. On the 30-pound borax plat shown in Plate VI, Figure 2, the 

 roken stand and uneven growth of the corn is quite striking. An 

 inspection made on July 9 showed that the corn on the no-borax and 

 on the 4-pound borax plats in the broadcasted section of the experi- 

 m ent haa made practically the same growth. 



