FIELD CEOPS. 437 



whole, pliosi:)hates proved the most efEective fertilizers in improviug pastures. 

 Basic slag, superphosphate, aud boiled bones did uniformly well. Potash made 

 no marked improvement. 



Varieties of corn in Ohio, G. T. Abbott (Ohio Sta. Circ. 117, ijp. 23-67, figs. 

 35). — This study of the' geographical distribution in Ohio of 27 varieties or 

 strains of corn is offered as a contribution to the agricultural survey of the 

 State. Notes on the several varieties present historical information and state 

 their cultural and varietal characteristics. 



J. S. Leaming- and his com, W. A. Lloyd (Wooster, Ohio, 1911, pp. 20, 

 figs. 10). — This paper gives a biographical sketch of J. S. Leaming and a brief 

 history of the Leaming corn. Notes are given on the distribution and adapta- 

 tion of this variety in a number of the corn growing States. 



Maize experiments at the experimental farm, Potchefstroom, T. O. Bell 

 (Agr. Jour. Union So. Africa, 2 (1911). No. .}, pp. ^So-JiJ/G, figs. 6).— Rainfall 

 data for 1909-10 are followed by reports of variety tests of corn during these 

 years and during the 5 crop seasons 1906-1911. During the 6 years' experiments 

 corn planted in rows 2 ft. apart gave greater yields than when the rows were 

 farther apart. 



A new breed of maize: The " Mercer," J. Bubtt-Davy (Agr. Jour. Umon 

 So. Africa, 2 (1911), No. 3, pp. 318-321, figs. 3).— The author describes a new 

 white dent corn thought to have originated by the accidental crossing of 

 Hickory King and Virginia Horsetooth. 



Cotton: From the raw material to the finished product, R. J. Peake (Lon- 

 don, Bath, and New York, [1911], pp. IX-\-122, pis. 3, figs. iT).— This book deals 

 with cotton as the basis of a great English industry, giving special prominence 

 to the manufacture of cotton goods and related phases. The English cotton 

 trade and the production and marketing of American cotton are also discussed. 



On the relation between weig'ht, specific gravity, and dry-m.atter content 

 of mangels, R. K. Keistensen (Tidsskr. Landhr. Planteavi, 18 (1911), No. 2, 

 pp. 277-309, figs. Jf). — The results obtained by the author in examinations of 

 mangels grown at the Askov Experiment Station during 1909-10 showed that 

 there is a general definite relation between the weight of mangels and their 

 content of dry matter. On the average, an increase of 10 gm. in weight was 

 found to be accompanied by a decrease in the percentage of dry matter of 

 0.014 per cent. When roots are grown under the same conditions there appears 

 to be a correlation between the specific gravity and the dry-matter content that 

 may be expressed by a simple formula, provided a sufficient number of roots 

 are classed together, so that individual variations are done away wnth, but if 

 the roots are grown under different conditions the relation between the specific 

 gravity and the dry-matter content will be variable. 



Trials of the sampling of roots by crushing and by sawing or grating showed 

 that if the saw teeth are sharp similar results are obtained as to the percentage 

 of dry matter in the roots. 



Potato improvement work at Svalof, F. Lundberg (Sveriges Utsadesfor. 

 Tidskr., 21 (1911), No. It, pp. 205-225).— The author gives the history, general 

 principles, and methods of the improvement work with potatoes at Svalof, 

 with the main results obtained up to and including the year 1910 in developing 

 new strains of potatoes for factory and table purposes. 



Marsh potato (Solanum commersonii), A. J. Hansen (Tidsskr. Landbr. 

 Planteavi, 18 (1191), No. 2, pp. 310-316).— In tests of the improved marsh 

 potato imported from France and the Blaa-Kampe potato, the latter produced 

 the larger yields during each of the 2 to 4 years during which the tests were 

 conducted at 3 Danish plant culture stations. 



