‘EFFECT OF BORAX ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF CROPS. ET 
TaBLE. 4.—E fect of various quantities of borax on corn in field plats on silty clay loam 
at Arlington, Va., in 1920. 
See. 1.—Fertilizer applied in | See. 2.—Fertilizer appliedin | See. 3.—Fertilizer appiied 
drill 7 days before planting. | drill at time of planting. broadcast at time of planting. 
| 
| 
Tse ta ae ae ee Fae 
Borax per Plants up lYield perplat,, Plantsup ‘Yieldperplat, Plants up |Yield per plat, 
acre. June 8. | pounds. | May 28. pounds. | May 28. | pounds. 
Num- Height, | | Num- |Height, eae Num- |Height,}q, | 
ta ae a ‘Stover.| Ears. | her. | inches” Stover.| Ears. “yer inches” Stover | Ears. 
_| 
None.... | - 207 S2Gan 5s 106 | 214 6.5 136 | 91 237 6.0 | 120 96 
1 pound... .. 177 8.1) 147 | 81 221 | 5.2 118 | 88 244 aa 113 91 
2 pounds 167 iota! 130 96 191 | 4.5 113 }- 89 206 ALS? ert 2Sr| 81 
3 pounds 194 RO L47, 93 | 209 ed! 135 | 80; 208 4.2 92 | 84 
INGHEs 5 ac: 170 8.6 156 94 210 5.5 132 | 874) - 202 5-6 | 122 90 
4 pounds 162 7-9 120 | 87 179 4.2 128 | i 156 4.5 TSE 84 
Spgemids sp 5b. 7 181 |) 86,168) 4.1 | 125 1. 75.1) 184 4.6} 131] 97 
10 pounds 153 5.9 114 | 89 lil 3.2 116 7 180 4.3) 1314 92 
NOnes == . 170 8.5 146 94 225 | 5.5 140 | 97 229 5-4] 148 | 96 
20pounds...| 127} 5.7} 129; 87} 76) 3.1; 107) 7) 175 4.0| 142] --. 85 
30 pounds 74 3-3 | 90 | 66 | 70 3.4 90 | 60 187 3.9 | 140 54 
5) pounds.--} 51). 4.9). ‘7% 44 7h ee ey 82; 39 44 =a Deea 5) 56 
one... 177 | SST Lor 105 211 o-0 156 | 109 182 2-00 Asan 100 
100 pounds 26 3.5 | 50 eB ee: 3 eee Az, 69 Bee. 2: 74\--- 64 
200 pounds 6 oat Wy bee 13 | fate: Sie 1a eas (0 Ou eS 0 0 
400 pounds 0 0 | 0 0 Uy Siena se 0} 0 he Ses 0 0 
INunes2- 75: >. 189 8.4 135 96 | 133 9-2 137 | 99 82 4.3 115 86 
In section 1, as far as concerns the 200 and 400 pound plats, nothing 
grew. Where borax was sown broadcast over the entire area and 
mixed with the soil the growth of either grass or weeds was pre- 
vented throughout the entire summer. In section 2 these same 
plats allowed only a few plants to mature, and these were outside the 
drill rows. 
From the data presented in the foregomg pages it is apparent 
that borax is injurious to plant growth. The degree of harmfulness 
seems to vary considerably with the crop grown and the method of 
applying the fertilizer. It is apparent trom the data presented in 
this bulletin and from the work of others previously cited that borax is 
much Jess harmful when sown broadcast than when concentrated in 
the drill. Weather conditions following the time of applying the 
fertilizer and during the early life of the crop are an important factor 
which influences the action of the borax, as was pointed out in con- 
sidering the work already reported. 
INFLUENCE OF RAINFALL ON THE EFFECT OF BORAX. 
A daily record of the rainfall at Arlington was kept, which affords 
an opportunity to study its influence on the effect of borax on the 
various crops. The daily rainfall for May, June, July, August, and 
September is given in Table 5. 
Considering first the weather conditions connected with the plant- 
ing of beans on May 26, it is seen from a study of the rainfall record 
that there was no precipitation for 10 days preceding the application 
of the fertilizer and none for 10 days following the inauguration of 
the experiment. The first rainfall occurred on June 5, amounting to 
1.19 inches. The rainfall for the remainder of the month was well 
distributed and was sufficient to keep the soil in good moist condition. 
At the time of planting the beans and for 10 days following the soil 
