136 AGRONOMY [BoT. Absts., Vol. X, 



864. Aston, B. C. Improvement of poor pasture. New Zealand Jour. Agric. 21 : 192-195. 

 £ charts. 1921. — The experiments were made to determine the best method of improving 

 shallow pasture which dries up to a dangerous degree in summer. Five-acre plots were treated 

 with basic slag, limestone rubble and phosphate, limestone rubble, or basic phosphate. 

 Sheep were used to determine the relative value of pasture. The basic slag gave excellent and 

 immediate results while the limestone alone was of least value. — N. J. Giddings. 



865. Bevan, W. a new fodder plant, Kudzu (Pueraria thunbergiana). Cj'prus Agric. 

 Jour. 16:33-34. 1921. — This woody leguminaceous climber has recently attracted attention as 

 a forage crop. In Japan, where it is native, seldom maturing seed elsewhere, it has many uses. 

 The thick roots contain large quantities of starch, used for human food; the stems contain a 

 fine fibre from which cloth is manufactured; while the foliage is valued as fodder for all kinds 

 of stock, horses being especially fond of it. The usual method of establishing a field of Kudzu 

 is to set nursery-propagated plants 10 feet apart each way in the early spring. In some cases 

 the stems attain a length of 60 feet in 3 months. — W. Stuart. 



866. Bbvan, W. Notes on hemp cultivation. Cyprus Agric. Jour. 16: 12-14. 1921. — The 

 hemp field is known in Cyprus as "kanavero." Soil of a clayey nature is said to be preferred 

 by the hemp growers. Land intended for hemp is given a deep ploughing after the 1st rain; 

 the 2nd ploughing takes place in October or January; a 3rd ploughing is made a few days before 

 sowing the crop, usually in April or May. After thorough harrowing and levelling the field 

 is irrigated and in about 5 days the seed is sown. Complete instructions as to amount of seed 

 to sow, subsequent cultivation of the plants, cutting and removal of seed, and retting of the 

 hemp are given. — W. Stuart. 



867. Bevan, W. Sudan grass. Cyprus Agric. Jour. 16:6. 1921. — This excellent fodder 

 grass, if irrigated, gives 3 or 4 cuttings a season; but it also gives a fair yield if not 

 irrigated. — W. Stuart. 



868. Bevan, W. The value of seed testing. Cyprus Agric. Jour. 16: 30-31. 1921.— A 

 small seed-testing station has lately been formed at the Agricultural Department, Nicosia. 

 The writer states that "the object of the tests to be carried out is to ascertain the germinating 

 power of the various seeds belonging to the Department before they are issued out to the 

 public." The Department agrees to undertake, so far as it can, to test without charge the 

 seed sent in by farmers. — W. Stuart. 



869. Brbakwell, E. Elephant grass [Pennisetum purpureum] at North Ryde. Agric. 

 Gaz. New South Wales 32: 552. 1921. 



870. Breakwell, E. Popular descriptions of grasses. Agric. Gaz. New South Wales 32: 

 537-542. Sfig. 1921. — Brief notes are given on species of Aristida, Hordeum, and Agropyron. 

 Aristida Behriana, Hordeummurinum, H.maritimum, Agropyron scabrum, and A. pectinatum 

 are figured. Hordeum bulbosum, a perennial, promises well as a cultivated grass. Under culti- 

 vation it grows 6 feet tall and yields well. — L. R. Waldron. 



871. Breakwell, E. Some germination tests of prickly pear seeds. Agric. Gaz. New 

 South Wales 32: 579-580. 1921. — Seeds of Opuntia spp. were subjected to various treatments 

 and then tested for germination; control lots were also tested. Seeds retained their viability 

 for a period of at least 4 years. Different preparatory treatments did not increase germinating 

 capacity. The work is being continued. — L. R. Waldron. 



872. Brown, P. E. The American Society of Agronomy. Science 53: 344-346. 1921.— 

 Abstracts are presented of papers read at a symposium, "Our present knowledge of methods of 

 corn breeding," held at the Chicago meeting of the society, Dec, 1920. — C. J. Lyon. 



873. BuRKiLL, I. H. A note upon plants grown for blue dyes in the north of the Malay 

 Peninsula. Gardens' Bull. Straits Settlements 2: 426-429. 1921.— The history of indigo 

 growing in the East, and the cultivation of Indigofera stiffruticosa Mill., Strobilanthes flaccidi- 

 folius Nees, and Marsdenia tinctoria R. Br. within the Malay Peninsula are discussed. — I. H. 



Bur kill. 



