No. 2, December, 1921] ' AGRONOMY 65 



395. Haunalteu, Emil. Die Auswahl und die Vorbereitung der Pflanzkartoflfel. [The 

 selection and preparation of potatoes for seed.] Oesterreich. Zeitschr. Kartoffelbau 1': 10-11. 

 1921. — Selection of varieties for food, industrial and fodder purposes, and selection of tubers 

 for seed are discussed. The author recommends medium-sized (for the variety) whole tu- 

 bers for seed, claiming that cut seed results in reduced yields, susceptibility to disease, and 

 degeneration. — F. Weiss. 



396. McMiLLER, P. R. Fertilizer tests pay in Minnesota. Potato Mag. 3":26. 1921.— 

 In 1920 on 27 farms the application of a complete commercial fertilizer resulted in greater yield 

 of potatoes, each bushel increase costing from O.IS to 1.77 dollars. The weather was unfavor- 

 able. The soil was mostly sandy loam, and in some cases was treated with stable manure. — 

 Donald Folsom. 



397. Millard, W. A. Dry spraying for the destruction of charlock. Jour. Ministry Agric. 

 Great Britain 28: 134-142. 1 fig. 1921. — In certain parts of England it is not convenient to 

 secure a supply of water for wet spraying for charlock, consequently some tests were conducted 

 during 1919 and 1920, near Leeds, on the use of some powdered chemicals for destroying the 

 weed in grain fields. Nitrolim (calcium cyanamide) was found to be of no value, iron sulphate 

 was effective only in such large quantities as to make it impracticable because of the cost, 

 but copper sulphate gave excellent results. The latter, finely ground and applied at the rate 

 of 20 pounds to the acre, destroyed the charlock provided seed had not set. For successful 

 control the weather should be fairly settled, there should be a heavy dew, but no wind at the 

 time of application; with these conditions dry spraying is quite as effective as wet spraying. — 

 M. B. McKay. 



398. NicHOLLs, W. D., and F. W. Peck. The cost of producing tobacco in Kentucky. 

 (A preliminary report.) Kentucky Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 229. 135-190, illus. 1921.— One- 

 year cost of production studied on 81 farms in the Burley areas covering 625.5 acres of Burley 

 tobacco and 70 farms in the Dark area covering 679 acres of dark tobacco is given. The total 

 cost per acre, including land rent, in the Burley district ranged from 163.06 to 403.18 dollars, 

 averaging 289.10, with over f of the acreage being produced at between 200 and 300 dollars 

 per acre. In the Dark district the total cost per acre varied from 100.03 to 308.19 dollars, 

 averaging 141.76, with over | the acreage being grown at a cost of 125 to 150 dollars 

 per acre. Ninety per cent of the Burley tobacco was grown at a cost of 31 cents or less per 

 pound, averaging 26 cents. In the Dark area 90 per cent was grown at a cost of 23 cents or less 

 per pound, averaging 17.2 cents. — W. D. Valleau. 



399. Oakley, R. A., and H. L. Westover. Effect of the length of day on seedlings of 

 alfalfa varieties and the possibility of utilizing this as a practical means of identification. Jour. 

 Agric. Res. 21 : 599-607. PI. 111-121. 1921.— Medicagofalcata and the 4 varieties of alfalfa,— 

 Peruvian, Kansas, Grimm, and Turkestan, — were grown under conditions for control of ex- 

 posure to light. Seedlings grown under conditions of a short January day and of a shortened 

 day (7-hour exposure) showed the following sequence with respect to height, erectness, and 

 lack of branching: Peruvian, Kansas, Grimm, Turkestan, M. falcata. Under exposure to 

 a lengthened day (electric illumination until 11 o'clock at night) the order is practically 

 reversed. By controlling light conditions it is possible to distinguish between seedlings of 

 the commercial groups of alfalfa. — D. Reddick. 



400. Parker, W. H., and H. Chambers. The nomenclature of agricultural plants. Jour. 

 Ministry Agric. Great Britain 28: 167-180. 1921. 



401. PiETERS, A. J., AND L. W. Kbphart. Annual white sweet clover and strains of the 

 biennial form. U. S. Dept. Agric. Dept. Circ. 169. 21 p., 8 fig. 1921.— The authors have 

 brought together all available information on the new sweet clover, including its history, 

 characteristics, and probable usefulness. The existence of several distinct varieties of 

 biennial white sweet clover is noted with brief descriptions of their characteristics. — L. R. 

 Hesler. 



