504 Summary of Agricultural Experiments, [sept., 



It will be seen that perennial rye-grass was substituted for Italian 

 rye-grass. In February, 1910, moss-dung litter at the rate of 15 tons 

 per acre was applied to part of each plot. After cutting, samples 

 of the hay of each plot were taken, the grasses and clovers separated 

 out and weighed, and the percentage of each calculated. From these 

 the weights in cwts. per acre of grasses and clovers were estimated, and 

 are shown in the following table : — 



With dung : — 







2 



3 



4 







Cwt. 



Cwt. 



Cwt. 



Cwt. 



Cwt. 



Grasses 



37 



39 



37 



37 



38 



Clovers 



23 



19 



13 



10 



7 



Total ... 



60 



58 



50 



47 



45 



Without dung :— 













Grasses 



18 



19 



24 



21 



27 



Clovers 



26 



21 



15 



12 



11 



Total . . . 



44 



40 



39 



33 



38 



it will be seen that as the proportion of Italian rye-grass in the 

 mixtures increased, so the proportion of clover in the crop decreased. 

 This was the case both with and without manure, though in every case 

 the effect of the dung was slightly to reduce the clover and to increase 

 the grasses. The Italian rye-grass also appeared to have a similar effect 

 on cocksfoot and timothy as on the clover, the quantity diminishing 

 with the increased use of the Italian seed. 



Change of Seed in Oat-growing (Cumberland and Westmorland Farm 

 School, Newton Rigg, Ann. Rept., 1909-10). — Irish-grown seed oats of 

 the Waverley variety was tried in comparison with home-grown seed of 

 the same variety with a view to -ascertaining whether, as in the case of 

 potatoes, there is any advantage in a change of seed. The crops from 

 local seed were 141^ stones of grain and 27 cwt. of straw, and from 

 Irish seed 112J stones of grain and 22 cwt. of straw. As in other trials 

 with oats, no advantage from a change of seed was shown. 



Experiments with Potatoes (Edinburgh and East of Scotland College 

 of Agric, Report XXIV.). — Variety trials. — These were carried out on 

 a medium loam, 400 ft. above sea-level. Two new varieties, Eclipse 

 and Edina, were tried in 19 10 against Mid-Lothian Early and Sharpe's 

 Express, the two latter having given good results among first early 

 varieties in former experiments carried out by the College. Both the 

 new varieties gave good yields, and Edina was promising as regards 

 quality. Among second earlies, Queen Alexandra (a variety indis- 

 tinguishable from King Edward) and Aberlady did well. The late 

 varieties included a selection from Dalmeny, namety, Helium, A 1, 

 Beauty, Regent, and Bountiful; most of these did very well. Northern 

 Star was retried after several years, and found to be greatly improved in 

 quality, while the yield was high. Two plots were planted with Presi- 

 dent, a Dutch variety, which was claimed to be a good cropper and 

 more resistant to disease than the older Up-to-Date types. The first 

 plot planted with seed imported in 1909 and grown that year produced 

 a healthy, vigorous plant yielding over io^ tons per acre. The second, 

 planted with seed imported in 1908 and grown in 1908 and 1909, failed 

 completely from disease. Among other late varieties Rising Sun did 

 well and White City badly. 



