1910.] Summary of Agricultural Experiments. 941 



dietary effects. In this respect these fodder stuffs seem to have a slightly 

 loosening- effect, comparable to that of good sunflower or peanut cake. 



Soy bean cake, as well as meal, has a higher food value than 

 ordinary sunflower cake, and it has been found by experiment that 

 0*90 kilo, (nearly 2 lb.) of cake, or a little more meal, is on the average 

 an equivalent substitute for 2} lb. of sunflower cake. On the two 

 experimental farms, the soy bean cake gave nearly identical results, 

 while the soy bean meal, by reason of varying composition, gave figures 

 ranging from under 2 to 2} lbs. 



With reference to the influence of these foods on the percentage of 

 fat in the milk the results of the experiments are conflicting. Some of 

 them show a decrease, others an increase. If the results obtained in 

 Sweden are compared with the results obtained in Germany, it would 

 seem that the soy bean materials have some tendency to lower the 

 percentage of fat in the milk produced, though not in such a degree as 

 to be of any practical importance. 



No change in the appearance or taste of the milk has been detected, 

 but the churning tests made in the summer time have shown that 

 the butter had a pronounced taste when large quantities of soy 

 meal or cake were used. Therefore, where the milk is utilised for the 

 production of butter, the daily ration of soy bean meal or cake given 

 to each cow should not exceed 1 to if lb. 



With this limitation, soy bean meal and cake may be considered 

 as good feeding stuffs for milch cows. 



Manuring of Plum Trees (Mitt. Deutschen Landw.-Gesell., No. 2, 

 19 10). — An experiment in the manuring of fruit trees, extending over 

 eleven years, is being carried out on an orchard belonging to the town 

 of Germersheim, under the direction of the Agricultural Instructor, 

 Herr Hoffmann, and the results for five years are given in the above 

 publication. The soil is a light sand, poor in plant food, and the 

 condition of the trees previous to the commencement of the experiment 

 was very unsatisfactory. The object of the trial was to show (1) the 

 effect of nitrogen in the form of sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of 

 soda; (2) the specific effect of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash and 

 lime ; and (3) the action of these manures in a liquid and in a dry 

 form. Six plots of 48 trees each were laid out and these were sub- 

 divided into sections. The general plan was to compare the effect of 

 (1) nitrogen, potash and lime; (2) nitrogen, phosphate and lime; (3) 

 potash, phosphate and lime ; (4) lime only ; (5) a complete heavy dress- 

 ing ; and (6) a complete light or medium dressing. Part of Plot 4 was 

 left unmanured, and on each plot the manures were applied both in 

 a liquid form and dry. 



The standard quantities of manure applied per tree were as 

 follows : — Sulphate of ammonia, 8 oz. ; nitrate of soda, io| oz. ; potash, 

 40 per cent., 5^ oz. ; superphosphate, 18 per cent., 3^ oz. ; lime, 3I lb., 

 every three years. In the case of Plot 5 (a and b) three times the above 

 quantity of nitrogen, phosphate and potash was applied. 



A glance at the table on p. 942 shows that the best results were 

 obtained from Plot 5, which received the heavy manurial dressing", while 

 Plot 6, which also received a complete dressing, but in smaller quantities, 

 takes the second place. The result of a lack of nitrogen is shown by 

 Plots 3 and 4. The application of the manure in liquid form did not 



