120 AGRONOMY [Box. Absts., Vol. VIII, 



ince of North Holland, Netherlands, were inundated by sea water. At first many farm crops 

 could not be grown. The soil had to be cultivated thoroughly to prevent excessive evapora- 

 tion due to capillary action, which would result in an increase of salt content toward the soil 

 surface. Proper drainage by pumping machines was advised. Heavy soils rather than 

 lighter ones were sensitive to deep plowing. Deep fall plowing on inundated lands is not 

 advisable. Spring treatment of the soil must be superficial, and only the cultivator and 

 harrow should be used to prepare the seed bed.^ — ^The first year sugar beets and mangel-wurzels 

 proved resistant to salty soil; spring barley also succeeded; mustard did fairly well; alfalfa 

 prospered only on lighter soils; red clover was everywhere poor. The growing of oats, peas, 

 spinach, potatoes, and cabbage was impossible.^ — The second year, 1917, the soil contained 

 less salt, though its structure was not normal. However, the early summer was dry and a 

 good harvest was obtained from sugar beets, mangel-wurzel, spinach, radish, and spring 

 barley; on lighter soils spring barley, mustard, red clover, and alfalfa did well; wheat, oats, 

 and flax were fairly good; white and brown beans were a failure. — The third year, 1918, the 

 salt had diminished to such an extent that it no longer affected field crops though the struc- 

 ture of the heavy soils still remained abnormal. On lighter soils good harvests of spinach, 

 radish, oats, spring barley, cabbage, broad beans, and peas were obtained. On heavy soils 

 most crops, including beets, were not as good as in the previous year. — J . C. Th. Uphof. 



815. SoTJTHwoRTH, W. A study of the influence of the root system in promoting hardiness 

 in alfalfa. Sci. Agric. [Canada] 1: 5-9. 1921.^ — A paper read before the Western Canadian 

 Society of Agronomy dealing with experiments carried on at the Ontario and Manitoba Agri- 

 cultural Colleges. Plants possessing a branched root system are better able to withstand 

 winter heaving than those having only a single taproot. Plants which develop rooting under- 

 ground stems are able to maintain themselves after the death of the main rootstock. When 

 alfalfa has the habit of spreading by root proliferation, the plant is better able to recuperate 

 from injury and to withstand cold. Such plants are usually less nutritious and palatable 

 and work is in progress at the latter institution to remedy these defects. — B. T. Dickson. 



81G. Stapledon, R. G. Seed studies: red clover with special reference to the country 

 of origin of the seed. Jour. Agric. Sci. 10: 90-120. 1920.— The country of origin of seeds of 

 various cultivated plants is important in determining the value of the crop for various pur- 

 poses. In England, clover seed from various sources varies greatly in the yield produced 

 and the value of the crop. Home-grown seed appears to be best for most uses. To a certain 

 extent the type of weed seeds found in clover is valuable in determining its source, but the 

 source of cleaned and blended seed can hardly be determined in this way. Author has worked 

 out a system of classification of seeds of red clover based on germinating power, average 

 size, and proportion of different colored seeds. Seeds were classed according to color as yel- 

 low, violet, and brown, and the various color variations, mottlings, etc., included with each 

 color are described. The proportion of "hard" seed was also determined. The results of 

 an exhaustive study of seed from two seasons' crops has enabled the author to give definite 

 criteria for the determination of the country of origin of clover seed and also has shown that 

 there is a definite coordination between the physical characteristics of clover seed and its 

 value for a definite purpose. — V. H. Young. 



817. Stent, Sydney M. Kudzu (Pueraria thunbergians). [Rev. of: Pipek, C. V. 

 Kudzu. U. S. Dept. Agric. Dept. Circ. 89. 7 p. 1920 (see Bot. Absts. 6, Entry 1428).] 

 Jour. Dept. Agric. Union of South Africa 1: 558-560. 1920.— Brief comment on adaptability 

 and source of seed. — E. M. Doidge. 



818. Stietz, G, E. G. Sugar cane culture in Java. Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manu- 

 facturer 65: 219. 1920. 



819. Taggart, W. G. Louisiana seedling canes. Sugar 21: 426-429, 439. 1919.— The 

 Louisiana Experiment Station has been growing seedling canes for a number"of years. The 

 seed was obtained from various tropical countries. Cane seed usually germinates very 



