I 
114 Colorado Experiment ^jtation 
distribution of both total and nitric-nitrogen within limited areas. We 
selected 150 square feet, .forming an area 5x30 feet, and took from 
the middle of each foot a core 2 inches in diameter to a depth of i 
foot, and determiined the total and nitric-nitrogen in each sample. We 
found but few samples from adjacent square feet that did not vary 
both in the total and nitric-nitrogen, sometimes by significant quanti¬ 
ties. We found, for instance, in two contiguous square feet, total 
nitrogen 0.13600 and 0.14552 percent, and nitric-nitrogen 8.33 and 
14.18 p. p. m. We found as low as 6-02 p. p. m. nitric-nitrogen in i 
square foot. This gives us a difference of 5.83 p. p. m. nitric-nitrogen 
in contiguous areas, i foot square, and a maximum range of 8.16 parts 
in 150 square feet* I made the statement, just above, that the total and 
nitric-nitrogen varied by significant quantities. In using this expression 
I am not begging the question by using general terms. The fact is 
that I do not know, and no onel else, so far as has come to my knowl¬ 
edge, has even made an attempt to determine, how small a quantity of 
nitric-nitrogen in the soil may affect either the quantity or quality of 
the wheat produced. But we have shown the effects of 10 p. p. m. of 
nitric-nitrogen, reckoned on the surface-foot, applied to the wheat at 
planting time. That a less quantity will affect the growth and com¬ 
position of the crop is very probable, for this quantity was sufficient 
to produce plants showing the effects of over-feeding in a very marked 
degree. This amount produced lodging to the very line to which it 
was applied, it produced broad-leaved, green plants with weak lower 
nodes, small, often shrunken, kernels and increased the protein in the 
grain by approximately 2 percent in e/ery case of its application, ex¬ 
cepting one or two, in the three yean; that we have been conducting 
these experiments. Twice the amount: of nitric-nitrogen, 20 p, p- m., 
produced a greater effect by about 0.7 percent and three times the 
amount, 30 p. p. m., produced a further increase of about the same 
amount in the average composition of the crops. The variations, then, 
in the amounts of nitric-nitrogen within an area of 150 square feet, 
being about 8 p. p. m., are sufficient to account for the variations ob¬ 
served by Prof. Montgomery, and also to account for the occurrence 
of flinty and starchy kernels in the same lot or sample of wheat. 
MANURE HAS NO EFFECT ON AMOUNT OF YELLOW-BERRY OR 
0 
COMPOSITION OF GRAIN 
There is one feature made evident by the Marquis samples grown 
at Boise, Idaho, in 1914, which requires discussion in this connection. 
I have pointed out that the application of water in quantities varying 
from I to 3 feet made no difference in the composition of the wheat, 
and had no effect upon the prevalence of the yellow-berry in the sam¬ 
ples. At the same time, as will not escape the notice of some, the ap- 
