38 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



used the bottoms of which were covered with wire netting, underneath which 

 was a body of water separated by about a half inch from the bottom of each 

 box. 



The results obtained from the different methods of treatment show that it is 

 possible at the present time to prevent root growth by the use of certain chem- 

 ical substances. The best results were obtained with excelsior or sawdust 

 treated with creosote. Sodium arsenate wns quickly washed out and lost its 

 effectiveness in a short time. 



Injury through smoke and flue dust, H. C. Miiller et al. (Ber. Agr. Cheni. 

 KantroU u. Vi'rs. Stat. Fflaitzenkraiik. Prov. Sacliscn, 1910, pp. 20-22). — Brief 

 notes are given on a number of investigations that are in progress upon the 

 effect of smoke, flue dust, gases, etc., from industrial works of various kinds. 



The sulphur deposited on the soil from a neighboring briquet factory was 

 found to have an injurious effect on the growth of rye. Chlorin from a chemical 

 factory severely injured rye. the leaves turning yellow, an analysis of the 

 injured plants showing they contained from 0.608 to 0.667 per cent chlorin. 

 Coal smoke and dust are reported to have injured clover to an extent that cattle 

 would not eat it when cut for hay. Rye was similarly injured and the flour 

 was dark and uninviting in appearance. Beets either did not come up or those 

 that did grow had their leaves covered with the dust to an injurious extent. 

 Carbolineum and soda applied to the trunks of trees quickly killed them. 

 Trees near potash works were injured and the leaves of horse chestnut trees 

 had a much higher ash and sulphur content than normally. 



Description of the comprehensive catalogue of botanical literature in the 

 libraries of Washington, Alice C. Atwood (U. S. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. 

 Circ. 87, pp. 7). — This is a description of a catalogue in the Bureau of Plant 

 Industry, the author catalogue of which contains about 50,000 entries. It is 

 intended as an index of the botanical litei'ature in the library of this Depart- 

 ment, together with botanical works contained in other libraries in Washing- 

 ton, D. C, and vicinity. The subject matter represented by the catalogue, in 

 addition to containing such entries as would be ordinarily expected in a botan- 

 ical catalogue, also includes references to the subjects of horticulture, tropical 

 agriculture, fibers, gums and resins, pharmacology, various special crops, seed 

 adulteration and control, etc. 



FIELD CROPS. 



Dry farming investigations in Montana, A. Atkinson and J. B. Nelson 

 (Montana Sta. But. 83, pp. 151-203, figs. 21). — The author summarizes data se- 

 cured during 6 seasons of dry farming investigations conducted on a number of 

 demonsti'ation farms in various parts of Montana, continuing work previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 20, p. 1028; 23, p. 331). The precipitation during this period 

 has been about the normal for this region. 



Potatoes proved the most profitable crop grown with an average yield of 

 105.32 bu. per acre and an average net profit of $41.99. Among the grain crops 

 winter wheat gave the best returns. Kharkov gave an average yield of 40.41 

 bu. and an average net pi-ofit of $21.30 per acre, but was gi'own only at the 

 Fergus County Station. Turkey Red grown at all the stations throughout the 

 period averagetl 32.45 bu. in yield and $14.49 in net profit per acre. Among 

 spring planted grains corn, Sixty Day oats, flax, and hull-less barley proved 

 most profitable in the order named, while the most satisfactory forage crojis 

 were alfalfa and fodder coi'n. 



Alternate cropping and summer tillage or fallowing proved more profitable 

 than continuous cropping in case of grain crops. Fall breaking resulted in a 



