No. 1, July, 1920] AGRONOMY 7 



plants was made by a grazing test of sheep. Two hundred and eighty-one sheep were turned 

 on 25 acres for 9 days and they seemed to prefer cocksfoot (Dactylit glomerata) first of all hut 

 if meadow grass (Poa prateruia) is present the cocksfoot is not touched until the meadow 



grass is cropped close. The plants taken after cocksfoot, in their apparent order of palata- 

 bility were holy grass {Hicrochloc redolens); willow (Salix fragilis); catsear {Hypochaeris 

 radicala); Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus); seed heads of blue-tussock (Poa "densoi) and 

 fescue-tossock {Festuca novac-zelandiae) ; tufted danthonia (Danthonia aemiannttlaris var.) 

 blue-tussock; tall blue-tussock {Poa intermedia) ; sweetbrier (Rosa rubiginosa) ; fescue-tussock 

 (Festuca novae-zelcmdiae) ] and poa-tussock (Poa caespilosa). The author states that these 

 observations regarding the plants eaten where sheep are grazing freely are notes merely and 

 no definite conclusions are to be drawn. A table showing the opinions of various botanists 

 regarding the palatability of the indigenous grasses of the montane and subalpine pastures is 

 appended. [See next following Entry, 51.] — 1. S. Cook. 



51. Cockayne, L. An economic investigation of the Montane tussock-grassland of New 

 Zealand. New Zealand Jour. Agric. 19: 120-138. Fig. 1-4- 1919.— This is the third article 

 by the author on the Tussock Grassland of New Zealand in which he discusses the deple- 

 tion of the grassland in the driest parts of Central Otaga. The average rainfall is from 

 10. S9 inches to 14 inches and this condition along with an excess of rabbits has resulted in 

 nearly barren areas over much of this region. The only kind of plant able to live under 

 such conditions is scabweed (Paoulia lutescens) which is worthless as a forage plant. Owing 

 to the unfavorable conditions for any desirable forage plant to survive, almost any plant 

 would be welcomed which would prevent the land from becoming barren. [See next pre- 

 ceding Entry, 50.] — I. S. Cook. 



52. Cowan, James. Crop production in the northern sandhills. Nebraska Agric. Exp. 

 Sta. Bull. 171. S p. 1919. — A brief resume" is given of some of the work of the Sub-Station 

 which is located in the sand hills region of northwestern Nebraska. A number of conclusions 

 applicable to the sand hills are drawn, though data are not presented. It is stated that 

 native hay grown in the wet and dry valleys may be improved by early spring scattering of 

 timothy and redtop seed in the meadow. — Native varieties of corn have not been surpassed in 

 yield by any imported corn. The growing of wheat in the sand hills is confined to the hard 

 lands. The Irish Cobbler is the most productive variety of potatoes. Mulching a subirri- 

 gated crop of potatoes with litter reduced the yield more than 20 per cent, while the mulching 

 of potatoes on dry, light, upland soils increased the yield 27 per cent. Beans are regarded 

 as an unreliable crop on light land and are not to be depended upon under such conditions of 

 drouth as cause failure with such a crop as corn. On uplands, it is considered useless to plant 

 more garden truck than can be well soaked twice a week by application of water when 

 rain fails. Nearly every species of orchard tree advertised or recommended for hardiness and 

 drouth resistance, has been tried out on the upland without success. — No species of deciduous 

 trees has been found satisfactorily to survive the adverse conditions of the dry upland sandy 

 soil. Poplars and cottonwoods thrive on subirrigated bottom land that is not too wet. Bull 

 pines raised from seed collected in the vicinity of the sub-station have done better than any 

 other species of tree. Even these gradually die off from year to year. Shallow rooting 

 induced by shallow soil and surface moisture is regarded as one of the primary causes of 

 fatality among the trees. All species of deciduous trees grown are attacked by borers. — T. A. 

 Kiesselbach. 



53. Crevost, C, and C. Lemarie. Plantes et produits filamenteux et textiles de l'lndo- 

 chine [Fiber and textile producing plants of Indochina.] Bull. Econ. Indochine 22:365-401. 

 3 pi., 1 fig. Ibid. 553-591. 2 pi., 9 fig. 1919. — The first paper consists of a critical discussion of 

 the four cultivated species of cotton (Gossypium) in Indo-China, with cultural and statistical 

 data regarding them. The second paper contains the descriptions and detailed discussions of 

 the economic products of Enodendron anfractuosum DC, Bombax i?ialabaricum DC, Cochlo- 

 spermurn gossypium DC, Wrightia annamensis Eberh. & Dub., Calolropis gigantea R. Br.> 

 C. procera R. Br., Typha, and Dicksonia Barometz Link. These two papers are to be re- 

 printed in volume 2 of the author's Catalogue of the products of Indo-China. — E. D. MerrilL 



