FIELD CROPS. 439 



plant aud gives detailed directions for carrying on hybridization work and the 

 subsequent seed production from the seed secured. 



A bibliography of 27 references is appended. 



Yearbook of sugar manufacture, J. Bock {Jahresher. Ziickerfabrik. [Stam- 

 mer], 50 (1910), pp. XI+319, figs. 11). — This publication is a compilation of 

 articles with reference to the agricultural and the technical phases of the beet 

 sugar industry for the year 1910. In addition to this matter statistics regarding 

 production and manufacture in the different countries of the world and reviews 

 of the laws passed bearing on the beet sugar industry are presented. 



Report on tobacco culture in Montgomery County, L. R. Nkel {.Tennessee 

 Sta. Bui. 93, pp. 114-116). — This is a report on the status of tobacco culture in 

 a typical tobacco county in the dark tobacco district. 



The author discusses the preparation and cultivation of the land and seed 

 selection. He states that successful growers apply stable manure to the poorer 

 poi'tions of the field and that a large part of the farmers apply about 100 lbs. 

 per acre of a 3 : 8 : G or a 2 : 7 : 4 fertilizer. A rotation recommended for trial is 

 first year, wheat ; second and third years, clover and grass; fourth year, tobacco 

 or corn ; and fifth year, rye cover crop sown in tobacco or corn, and soy beans. 



Contributions to the systematic classification of wheat varieties, J. Franz 

 {Beitrdge zur Sortensystemattk 6e* Weizen. Inaug. Diss., Univ. Giessen, 1911, 

 pp. 82, pi. 1). — The author made determinations of the number of kernels and 

 their individual weight, and of the total weight of the kernels in each spikelet 

 in 10 fully developed spikes of 17 varieties of wheat, and further ascertained 

 the weight of the spike, the number of kernels, the total weight of the kernels, 

 the average weight of the kernel, the number of rachis joints, and the spike 

 length in 15 heads each of 15 varieties of wheat. 



The data secured indicated that in general the second kernel in the spikelet 

 is the heaviest, being followed in decreasing order by the first, third, fourth, 

 etc. With reference to the weight of the spikelet, the head of wheat may be 

 divided into 3 parts, the lower showing an increase in weight of spikelets from 

 be'ow upwards, the middle portion containing the heaviest spikelets, aud the 

 upper having a decreasing tendency in their weight as they are located neai'er 

 the point. The normal spike shows a uniformly full development in each part. 



The following basis of classification is proposed : All varieties with rachis 

 joints less than 0.4 cm. long are to be regarded as compact headed, those with 

 the rachis joints from 0.400 to 0.499 cm. long as medium, and the varieties 

 with the rachis joints 0.5 cm. long or longer as open-headed. 



The rachis joints of the spikelets, as a rule, were found to increase in length 

 up to the end joint, which is smaller than the joint preceding it. A study of 

 the number and distribution of the fibrovascular bundles in the rachis did not 

 disclose a relation to the distribution of the individual kernel weight in the 

 spike. 



Experiments with wheat varieties in the Cape Province, 1910, W. J. La- 

 MONT {Agr. Jour. Union So. Africa, 2 (1911), No. 3, pp. 305-308). — Notes on the 

 rust resistance of numerous wheat varieties are followed by a table giving 

 exact data on varieties tested in the Western Province during 1907-1910. 



Some wheat tests, A. MacPherson (Jour. New Zeal. Dept. Agr., 3 (1911*), 

 No. 4, pp. 299-303, figs. 2). — An application of 1 cwt. superphosphate was fol- 

 lowed by a greater increase in the yield of wheat than resulted from the use 

 of the same amount of fertilizer with sulphate of potash or nitrate of soda 

 and gypsum, but in another test the greatest gain was obtained by the use 

 of a mixture of 1 cwt. superphosphate, i cwt. sulphate of potash, and i cwt. 

 gypsum. Results of variety tests are also reported. 

 32355°— No. 5—12 4 



