No. 2, June, 1921] AGRONOMY 119 



different varieties of wheat is from less than 1 per cent to more than 3 per cent. In many 

 regions, the varieties most favored by farmers have been shown to be those varying most in 

 the starch-protein ratio. This is true of Club wheat in California, and, in the order named, 

 of Bluestem, Little Club, Turkey Red, Jones' Winter Fife, and Forty-fold in Washington. 

 Since variation in protein is a varietal characteristic in wheat, author concludes that in breed- 

 ing for general purposes, wheat strains should be sought which vary in the starch-protein 

 ratio, since this indicates that they have a greater climatic adaptability. In breeding for 

 a limited locality, wheat with a maximum protein content and with the least possible varia- 

 tion with respect thereto is to be sought. — V. H. Young. 



810. RosENFELD, Arthur H. Problems of cane fertilization. Sugar 21: 24-26, 118-119. 

 1919. — The results of several years' experiments with various fertilizers on sugar cane are 

 not consistent and consequently none of the fertilizers tried is recommended. Rotation 

 and the use of legumes are advocated. — C. W. Edgerton. 



811. RosENFELD, ARTHUR H. Further experiments in fertilizing cane. Sugar 22: 66^ 

 664. 1920. — No definite conclusions can be drawn from the various fertilizer experiments 

 which have been conducted at the Tucuman (Argentina) Experiment Station, as the results 

 have not been consistent. — C. W. Edgerton. 



812. ScHROEDER, H. Die jarhliche Gesamtproduction der griinen Pflanzendecke der 

 Erde. [The annual production of the vegetation of the globe.] Naturwissenschaften 7: 8-12, 

 23-29. 1919. — This is in reality a calculation of the total quantity of CO2 consumed annually 

 by green plants. The author briefly reviews previous papers and proceeds to consider the 

 land surface of the globe as consisting of forest, agricultural land, steppe, and desert. For 

 each of these divisions various calculations are made based upon available data together 

 with such corrections as the author considers necessary. For instance, he takes Ebermaj'er's 

 determination that in the Bavarian forests 3000 kgm. of carbon are fixed annually per hectare; 

 taking into account the fact that the vast areas of circumpolar and mountain forests must 

 fix less, although tropical and subtropical forests probably fix more, the author considers that 

 this figure should be reduced by 1/6, and that 2500 kgm. per hectare is nearer a true average. 

 Much space is devoted to a discussion of the principal crop plants, wheat, rye, barley, oats, 

 maize, potatoes, and rice, and the author concludes that these plants fix 1600 kgm. of carbon 

 per hectare annually. This figure includes grain, straw, and the roots and stubble left on 

 the field. Forage crops, such as clovers, sorghums, peas, soybeans, green maize, as well as 

 sugar, are believed to fix on the average about the same amount of carbon as the grains. 

 Steppe and desert vegetation can only be estimated and there is a large margin of possible 

 error. The final figures are given in table 15 (p. 27). To these he adds an estimate of the 

 carbon fixed by the benthos, and arrives at CO billion kgm., with limits of 50 and 80 billions, 

 as the quantity of CO2 annually consumed by green plants. Of these 60 billions, 40 are con- 

 sumed by forest, 14 by agricultural, 4 by steppe, and 1 by desert plants. The author also 

 discusses briefly the return of CO2 to the air by decay and other means, but concludes that 

 the quantitative data are too scanty to warrant even a guess. The total CO2 of the atmo- 

 sphere being 2100 billion kgm., it follows that unless replaced the available supply would 

 be exhausted in about 30 years. — A. J. Pieiers. 



813. Shepherd, A. N. The Tick bean. (Vicia faba.) A green manure crop for irrigation 

 areas. Agric. Gaz. New South Wales 32: 42-44. 2 fig. 1921. — Tick beans were grown on a 

 plot in the Murrumbidgee irrigation area with good results. In consequence of several 

 irrigations, over 15.5 tons of green crop — easily turned under — were produced per acre. It 

 was calculated the crop returned to the land 145 pounds of nitrogen (as ammonia) per acre. — 

 L. R. Waldron. 



814. Smeding, S, Ervaringen omtrent de cultuur op de in 1916 overstroomde gronden in 

 de Anna Paulawnapolder. [Experiences on crop growing in the 1916 inundated lands of the 

 Anna Paulawnapolder.] Cultura 32: 1-29, 60-64. 1920. — In 1916 some low lands in the prov- 



