No. 1, July, 1920) AGRONOMY 3 



17. Anonymous. New Zealand flax. Kcw Bull. Misc. Inf. [London] 1919: 169-177. 

 PI. 1-3. 1919. — This is an account of the attempts to grow New Zealand flax [l'hurmium 

 tenax] on a commercial scale in the British Isles, including a statement, by Lord Ventry of 

 the experiments conducted in Ireland in the culture of this plant.— E. M. Wilcox. 



18. Anonymous. Sugar beet julceries proposition. Australian Sugar Jour. 11:370-371. 

 1919.— A committee appointed by the Minister of Agriculture reported on the practicability 

 of the establishment in districts remote from the Maffra Sugar Factory of juicery plants 

 for the extraction of raw sugar from beets, which could then be sent to Maffra to be refined. 

 It was reported technically possible for 75 to 85 per cent of the sugar to be extracted by 

 crushing the beets and evaporating the water from the crude juice. This product could be 

 transported long distances and would keep for periods extending to 3 years. It was found 

 not to be profitable under the present conditions. — C. Rumbold. 



19. Anonymous. Soy bean milk. Sci. Amer. Supplem. 87:233. 1919. 



20. Anonymous. Salt and the growth of coastland plants. Agric. News [Barbados] 18: 

 321. 1919.— The author discusses the toleration of salt exhibited by tropical crops such as 

 sugar-cane, cotton and coconuts, which are cultivated on coastlands in the West Indies. — 

 J. S. Dash. 



21. Bano, Jose de. El efecto del amacollamiento de los cereales respecto de su producto. 

 [Effect of tillering of cereals on yield.] Revista Agric. [Mexico] 4:218-219. 2 fig. 1919 — 

 Heavy tillering of cereals in tropical regions with consequent irregularity in time of maturity 

 results in lowered yields. This condition is especially marked in Mexico.— John A. Stevenson. 



22. Barber, C. A. Studies in Indian sugar canes, No. 4. Tillering or underground 

 branching. Mem. Dept. Agric. India (Bot. Ser.) 10:39-153. PL 37. 1919.— A description 

 is given of the different varieties of sugar cane. The varieties vary greatly in the rate of 

 maturing and the number of canes produced per plant. Tables are presented showing the 

 relative rate of maturing. The branching of various groups, from the wild saccharums to 

 the thick tropical canes is of similar nature but differs in degree. A discussion of morpho- 

 logical characteristics is given together with illustrations, showing the characteristics of 

 the various varieties. — J. J. Skinner. 



23. Barber, C. A. Studies in Indian sugar canes, No. S. Mem. Dept. Agric. India (Bot. 

 Ser.) 10: 155-175. PL 8. 1919.— The paper deals with the results of testing the suitability 

 of sugar cane varieties for different localities. There is a tendency of each variety to grow 

 better near its native habitat. — A special study was made of the following varieties: Saretha, 

 Chin, Khari, Pansahi, Chynia, Baroukha, and Mungo. — J. J. Skinner. 



24. Barber, C. A. The growth of the sugar-cane. II. Internat. Sugar Jour. 21:545- 

 54S. Fig. 1-4. 1919. — Sugar cane is not propagated by seed because the flowering of the 

 plant is uncertain, the seed so small as to be difficult to handle and the time between sow- 

 ing seed and reaping varies in India from 16 to 18 months, while a "set" will produce its ripe 

 canes in about 12 months. An even field cannot be expected from seed-grown canes, while 

 plants produced by "sets" are exactly like their parents. The second period of growth 

 consists of the elongation of the stems by the formation of much larger joints than those 

 found under ground. This period closes with the formation of flowers and seed. Buds and 

 root-eyes are formed in' each joint for which reason any joint of cane planted will pro- 

 duce a new plant. Branching and rooting of the aerial portion of the plant is repressed by 

 light and by the lack of moisture. In many moist climates where the rain collects in the 

 bases of the old leaves, shooting and rooting start and the practice is to strip off the dying 

 leaves at stated intervals. When canes fall to the ground similar branching starts and vari- 

 ous means are taken to prevent "lodging." In the Godavari district of the Madras Presidency 

 where cane reaches a height of 25 feet and cyclones are frequent, an intricate system of bind- 

 ing the stalks in bunches around bamboo poles is used. — C. Rumbold. 



