The Mena weekly star., 1913-05-08
j2otes of tbe 9ena
 GFpertment Station
W. C. LasSeter Gives Results of Fertilization of Grain and of Variety Tests.

| w. C. Lasseter Gives Results of l Fertilization of Grain and of
 Variety Tests.
 r The effect of light application of
 nitrate of soda on growing grain is
 now easily percepuble in the fer tilizer tests at Mena Sub-station. Fertilizers are expected to prove profitable for wheat and oats in ! this general section. The method ! followed al the Mena Sub-statlon is ! tU apply acid phosphate and mu-
 rlate of potash broadcast i'll the fall and disk It ln before seeding the wheat Or oats. Acid phosphate Is applied at the rate of 250 pounds of 10 Der cent phosphate and mu- riate of potash at the rate of 20 pounds per acre. The effect of these fertilizers was easily percep-
 tible all through the fall and win ter months.
 Since nitrate of soda Is very so- ! luDle and lS easily leached from the
 soil, it Is not applied until the plants are in vigorous growing con- dItiOn and ready to take 1t up. Therefore nitrate of soda was not
 applied until the 18th of April. This
 was scattered broadcast over the growing grain at the rate of 621a
 pounds to the acre. Nitrate of soda being very soluble, was immedi- ately dissolved by very light mist or by moisture from the ground be- low and taken up by the soil, when it immediately became available for the use of the plants. In less than a week the effect was notice able from the increased growth and VigOr of the young plants and the rich green cOloration showing on
 those plats where nitrate of soda was applied. Those plants which did not receive the fertilizer are yellowish green in appearance, and are no so growthy as are the oth- CTS.
 Nitrate of soda encourages the growth of straw and leaves in wheat and oats. In many sections lit Is resorted to in order to make the straw grow long enough for the grain to be harvested without loss. It adds very little to the fruiting powers of the plant. The phos- phorous and potash applied in the fall are supposed to make the plant produce grain. Nitrate of soda may also be used to encourage vegeta- tive growth of corn or cotton on poorer soils. On these it should be applied as the top dressing after the plants are large enough to se- cure some benefit from it immedi- | ately.
 The Zimmerman and the Blue Stem varieties of winter wheat al the sub-statiQn are now well head ed out, while the Red May. Fulcas- ter and the Sibley's New Golden are | rapidly approaching the heading stage. These give promise of doing | well again this year.
 The stand of winter oats at the sub-station was not injured in the | least last winter. The Winter LII T. " illttA Nl dN, lCuUlid duu Oul- l person, all turf varieties, and the Red Rust Proof stood the winter well. However, the Red | Rust Proof was bitten back at one time. Red Rust Proof is now head ing out. and all give promise of ex- cellent yields.
 So long as winter oats can be successfully carried through the winter without injury to the stand | they are preferable to the spring varieties, because of their increased | yields and their earliness. The | winter oats are usually ready to be- gin feeding on from two to four | weeks earlier than are the spring | grains. While the Red Rust Proof | oats seeded last fall are now head | ing out, the spring oats are just now establishing the stool pre- paratory- to starting up. During ordinary seasons a stand of winter oats is practically assured. provid- | ing planting is done during the | month of October.