The effect of systematic plot distribution upon the estimate of error of a field-plot experiment of 5 × 5 plots has been studied on ninety-one blocks taken from eight different uniformity trials, representing a wide variation in plot size and plot shape, crop, climate, and soil.

The arrangements studied are: two different knight's moves, two different diagonal arrangements, and eight irregular arrangements, seven of which have been chosen at random.

The investigation has shown that the use of systematic plans introduces a bias in the estimate of the error of the experiment. The use of the knight's move arrangement causes an over-estimation of the error, whereas the use of the diagonal causes an under-estimation.

Since the year 1927, observations have been made in Victoria on the development of wheat crops of various varieties grown in four different districts of the State.

The method used was based on that employed by Engledow in his “Investigations on Yield in Cereals,” by taking counts on numbers of plants in various “foot length” samples scattered in a systematic manner over the areas studied.

The basis of the observations was the determination of the values which comprise yield, viz. p = numbers of plants, e = ears per plant, n = number of grains per ear, g = average weight of grain.

1. The attack on the organic matter of different soils using varying strengths of hydrogen peroxide has been investigated.

2. Starting with the most dilute peroxide, a complex of constant composition is oxidised in increasing amount.

3. Above a certain strength of peroxide there is no further attack on the nitrogenous compounds of the organic matter, but a progressive decomposition of non-nitrogenous carbon compounds or complexes.

4. The fraction oxidised up to the point at which no further decomposition of nitrogenous matter occurs is termed the “oxidisable complex”, and, whilst apparently specific for a given soil, varies somewhat in composition in different soils.

Measurements have been made of the electrical conductivity of aqueous suspensions of stored soil samples taken at intervals of several years from four of the Rothamsted classical plots bearing the same crop every year. The results show that under continuous cropping:

1. The initial conductivity (and therefore the soluble salt content) of an unmanured soil decreases steadily to a minimum value, which then remains fairly constant over a long period of years. There is reason to believe that, under the same conditions, the normal initial conductivity of a continuously manured plot (excluding the temporary increased measurements due to application of manure) decreases similarly to a fairly constant minimum value, which is slightly greater than that of an adjacent unmanured soil depending on the kind and probably on the quantity of manure applied.

2. The 7 days’ increase of both unmanured and manured soil decreases progressively. In the case of an unmanured soil for which earlier samples were available, the 7 days’ increase is found to decrease comparatively rapidly during the first few years of continuous cropping.

This material which is also known as distillery dregs, dried dreg or slummage is a by-product of the production of alcohol. In this process a mixture of coarsely ground cereals is used and, after fermentation, the liquid extract is drawn off leaving behind the distillers’ grains or draff.

In the course of the last 20 or 25 years it has been established clearly that agricultural experiments carried out under field conditions are subject to an appreciable error, due chiefly to soil heterogeneity. In order to avoid the effect of this disturbing factor, which greatly affects the reliability of data given by field trials, two questions had to be carefully considered: (1) how to secure greater uniformity in soil conditions; and (2) what is the best method of getting a criterion of the accuracy of the experiment and an adequate interpretation of the results obtained?

The Papaya tree is common in all parts of India and is grown also in the Philippine Islands, Federated Malay States, Java, Ceylon, and other tropical countries.

1. An account has been given of the composition and weights of nutrients in 3200 wheat plants from seven weeks before ear emergence until the crop was harvested. The distribution of the plant nutrients, and the rate of assimilation and translocation of these nutrients, have been discussed.

2. In the case of the whole plant, the percentage of nutrients in the dry matter decreased from the time of the first sampling, with the exception of silica, which had a tendency to remain constant throughout. In the case of the ear, diminution in the percentage of nutrients in the dry matter was observed from a fortnight after ear emergence until harvest.

3. Marked increases in the weights of all nutrients in the whole plant were noted until ear emergence, from then onwards assimilation was much slower. The plant attained its maximum quantities of the nutrients in the following order: potash seven weeks, lime and chlorine five weeks, nitrogen three weeks, carbon, phosphoric acid and silica two weeks, before harvest.

Assimilation of these had, therefore, ceased at the above stated times, although transference to the ear proceeded until within about a week before harvest.

Decomposition experiments were carried out in the laboratory with different kinds of farmyard manure in various soils (sand and clay, acid and neutral). In neutral or slightly acid soil there was a very strong multiplication of bacteria and, to a smaller extent, of actinomycetes immediately after the addition of manure. This increase, which was especially marked when fresh straw was present in the manure, was sooner or later followed by a rather sudden decrease, which caused the numbers of bacteria gradually to approach those in the control soils. The actinomycetes were generally more abundant in the later stages of the process. This suggests that they may be especially active in the decomposition of the more resistant residues. The “numbers” of fungi were not affected by the addition of manure alone (except to a slight degree in strongly acid soil, where the bacteria seemed inactive), but the presence of fresh straw caused them to become active, especially in strongly acid soil, where their “numbers” remained at a very high level for a long time, this abundance of fungi consisting of both mycelium and spores.

1. The mineral content of pastures farmed under the Intensive System of Grassland Management, and representing three to five weeks'growth, from three centres in two seasons, is reported.

2. The lime content fluctuated considerably during the season, but the fluctuations showed no definite seasonal trend. The average seasonal content was practically identical in all cases.

3. The phosphoric acid content showed a definite seasonal variation, falling during drought or the early summer flush period and recovering again after the drought or flush period respectively. The phosphoric acid showed consistently a very highly significant positive correlation with the nitrogen content of the herbage. The bearing of this correlation on the metabolism of the plant and on the phosphatic and nitrogenous manuring of pastures is discussed.

The following substances proved fungicidal for the conidial stage of the hop mildew (Sphaerotheca Humuli):

(1) Liquid paraffin at 2 per cent. emulsified with soft soap. The spray is harmless, or dangerous, to foliage according to the conditions (probably temperature) in the greenhouse.

(2) Medicinal paraffin, emulsified with 0·75 per cent. castor-oil soap, is not quite fungicidal at 3 per cent.

(3) “Summer solol”, a proprietary mineral-oil preparation containing 61·6 per cent. by weight high-boiling petroleum oils, is fungicidal at a concentration between 2·5 and 3 per cent. when 0·5 per cent. soft soap is added to confer satisfactory spreading properties. At this concentration no injury to the leaves was caused.

(4) “Volck”, a proprietary petroleum-oil preparation containing 80·0 per cent. by weight mineral oils, is fungicidal at 2·5 per cent. With either 0·5 per cent. soft soap or 0·5 per cent. Agral I. Injury may be caused under certain conditions.

Digestibility trials have been carried out with sheep on a sample of dried grass and a grass meal, both of which were artificially dried on an experimental band drier. The analyses of the two materials were affected by the fact that the grass was cut in August after a very dry summer and the herbage was contaminated with a certain amount of stemmy material.

The digestibility of the two samples is of a high order and, with the exception of that of the crude protein, equal to the values quoted by Woodman for short grass. The sheep put on weight during both trials and there was a retention of nitrogen and mineral matter in all cases. The dried grass would appear to contain an adequate amount of available calcium, phosphorus and potash for the plane of nutrition at which it was fed.

1. Addition of farmyard manure to soil gives rise, in laboratory experiments, to an abundant development of cellulose-decomposing bacteria of the genus Vibrio in approximately neutral soils (pH 6.5–7.0). In faintly acid soils (pH 5.7–6.2) these organisms develop less abundantly, and are partly replaced by Spirochaeta cytophaga. At lower pH values only the fungi are active in the decomposition of cellulose. Similar results were obtained by adding filter-paper or straw to soils of different reactions. Of the fungi, Trichoderma and Penicillium appear more active in acid soil, whereas other forms, among others Mycogone nigra, Stachybotrys sp., Coccospora agricola (?), and Botryosporium sp. seemed prominent in neutral soil.

2. The vibrios, of which four strains were studied in pure culture, are very sensitive to acidity. They fail to develop in the pH interval 6.0–6.4, and have an optimum at p 7.1–7.6. Spirochaeta cytophaga appears to be slightly more resistant to acidity, being able to grow at pH 5.6–6.0.

3. The bacteria as well as the fungi are capable of decomposing the lignified cellulose of straw.

It is possible to make ensilage of high digestibility from grass in a tower silo. The loss by drainage is negligible and can in all probability be avoided entirely.

The losses due to fermentation are not high and the final product is a highly nutritious foodstuff.

The fact that all the silage with the exception of the uppermost layer, which was not expected to be used for feeding but merely as a protective layer, has been fed and was eaten readily is proof of the ease with which grass silage of high feeding value can be made in a tower silo if adequate precautions are taken.

Seventeen samples of pasture collected from May to December, 1929, have been analysed for mineral constituents.

1. The results show that drought conditions seriously affect the mineral composition of pastures.

2. The calcium content showed a slight fall during the months of drought, and a more marked fall in the months of heavy rain from October to December.

3. The phosphorus content fell during the drought period and rose rapidly at the end of the year.

Many authors have studied the post-natal growth of cattle (Ecles(7), Feldmann (8), Gärtner (10), Moulton, Trowbridge and Haigh (16, 17), Brody(4, 5), Fischer (9), Schmalhausen(19, 20) and many more).

On the other hand, embryonic growth has been studied only by a few (Hammond (11), Bergmann(1) and a few others), although Maligonoff (14, 15) pointed out the great importance of studying embryonic development.

1. The addition of a pyrethrum extract to a petroleum solvent, semirefined white spirit, considerably lowers its interfacial tension against water. The tension also depends upon the reaction of the aqueous phase, decreasing as the alkalinity increases.

2. The addition of agral W.B. to a solution of pyrethrum extract further lowers the interfacial tension more especially against acid solutions, thereby decreasing the sensitivity of the tension value to the pH of the aqueous phase.

3. The presence of calcium salts in the aqueous phase raises the interfacial tension of solutions of pyrethrum extract.

4. Alkaline salts counteract the effect of calcium salts, and the resulting tension values can be correlated with the ratio of calcium to hydroxyl ion concentration.

The data collected under the Agricultural Meteorological Scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture have provided information for a number of years in a number of places on the dates of sowing and appearance above ground of wheat, winter oats, spring oats, spring barley, turnips and swedes.

Samples of milk from one hundred and forty-two mares have been analysed for the purpose of determining the percentage of solids, protein, fat, lactose and ash.

Of this number, thirty-eight samples were taken during the period of colostrum secretion and one hundred and four were colostrum-free milks.

The average composition of the milk of British mares has been found to be in close agreement with that of continental mares. The only marked difference is in the percentage of ash.

The average percentage of ash in the milk of continental mares is 0·38 and in the milk of British mares 0·51. It has been found that in the lighter British breeds (Ponies and Thoroughbreds) the ash content is similar to that of the continental mares, whereas in the heavier breeds (Clydesdales and Shires) the percentage of ash is appreciably greater.

Analyses of foliage of tomato plants grown under different manurial conditions are recorded for the four seasons 1924–7.

The nitrogen content of the dried foliage shows a seasonal variation irrespective of manurial treatment.

Where phosphates are omitted from the manure the potash content of the foliage is depressed. When phosphates are added to a soil from which they had previously been withheld the potash content of the foliage is increased.

Where potash is omitted from the manure the phosphoric acid of the foliage is considerably increased. When the deficiency of soil potash is rectified the phosphoric acid content of the foliage is reduced.