664 



Press drill vs. broadcast seeding. — The results of the experiments oi 

 1890 in planting wheat and oats with a press drill and with a broadcast 

 seeder agreed with those of two previous years iu favoring the press 

 drill. 



South Dakota Station, Bulletin No. 22, March, 1891 (pp. 42). 



Injurious insects, I. H. Orcutt, M. D., and J. M. Aldrich, B. S. 

 (pp. 77-118, illustrated). — Notes on the life history of the ash borer 

 [u'Egeria fraxini, Lugger), cecropia emperor moth {Plafysamia cecropia, 

 Linn.), sphinx moths, large willow (elm) saw-fly {Cimhex americana, 

 Leach), small willow saw-fly {Nemafus ventralis, Say), ash saw-fly (Mono- 

 phadnus bardus, Say), the cotton-wood leaf beetle [Lina scripta, Fab.), 

 the false chinch-bug {Nysius angusfaivs, Uhl.), cabbage butterfly (Pieris 

 protodice, Boisd.), cabbage plusia {Phisia brassiccc, Riley), zebra cabbage- 

 worm {Mamestra picta, Harr.), cabbage louse [Aphis brassicw, Linn.), 

 and cut-worms, with suggestions as to remedies. The bulletin is illus- 

 trated with 32 figures, a few of which are original. There are numerous 

 references to observations and experiments by the author, and abstracts 

 from the letters of a number of correspondents. 



Utah Station, Bulletin No. 5, March, 1891 (pp. 22). 



Potato trials, J. W. Sanborn, B. S. (pp. 1-16). — A preliminary 

 report on experiments on methods of planting, tillage, and distance 

 of planting of potatoes. The experiments were conducted on sandy 

 loam soil with a gravelly subsoil, in a field about 160 feet above 

 the Logan Eiver. On 9 plats potatoes were planted in trenches and 

 furrows and near the surface. Shallow and deep tillage were also 

 compared with no tillage. On 25 plats potatoes were planted in hills, 

 in rows 3J, 2^, and 2 feet apart, at distances of from 4 to 24 inches, and 

 in squares at distances of from 20 to 40 inches. Analyses were made by 

 W. P. Cutter, B. S., chemist of the station, with reference to the relation 

 of distance and depth of planting and methods of cultivation to the 

 starch and water in the potatoes harvested. The results of the experi- 

 ments described in the article are thus summed up : 



Summary of conclusions.— (l) The depth of planting did not materially affect the 

 total yield of potatoes. 



(2) Potatoes planted near the surface contained 23.1 per cent more starch than 

 those planted deeper, and were, therefore, worth 33.4 per cent more for food, while 

 being at the same time more palatable. 



(3) Shallow tillage and even no tillage were more effective than deep tillage. 



(4) The yield of potatoes decreased after passing 8 inches apart as the distance 

 between the hills increased; the yield decreased when planted nearer than 8 inches 



(5) Increasing the distance between rows did not appear to decrease the yield. 

 This fact is probably due to the decreased ratio of root cutting and might not hold 

 true for a system of tillage that does not involve root cutting. 



(6) Close planting resulted in an increase of moisture andiua decrease of starch of 

 potatoes amounting to 7 per cent. 



