FIELD CROPS. 535 



7). — This is a report on the fourth rotation of a series begun in 1894, con- 

 sisting of swedes, barley, hay, and oats. The results obtained at 2 points are 

 stated in full, including the j'ields obtained after applications of various amounts 

 and combinations of natural and artificial fertilizer. 



The application of 12 tons of dung per acre to swedes in drills at the time 

 of sowing was followed by higher yields than when commercial fertilizers were 

 added to this application, particularly if the previous hay crop had received 

 a phosphate as basic slag. Nitrogen for the barley crop proved undesirable 

 since it caused lodging. A potash fertilizer gave excellent results when only 

 commercial fertilizers were used. 



How to raise the yields of summer cereals in Novo-Ilussia, K. G. Man- 

 KOvsKi {Abs. in Zhur. Opytn. Agron. (Rioss. Jour. Expt. Laridw.), 11 (,1910), 

 No. 3, pp. 399, 400). — Neither the application of manure nor increasing the 

 depth of plowing from 34 to 10 in. increased the yield of cereals, but early and 

 shallow replowing proved of considerable benefit. 



The roots of some North African desert grasses, S. R. Price (New Phytoh, 

 10 (1911), No. 9-10, pp. 328-340, pi. 1, figs. 2).— These pages state the results 

 of anatomical and physiological studies of the roots of Aristida ptingens, A. 

 obtusa, Lijgum spartum, Bronius tectonitn, and other North African desert 

 grasses. Adhering sand particles which formed a sheath to the roots and inter- 

 fered with section cutting were dissolved with dilute hydrofluoric acid. 



Report on an experiment on the cultivation of lucern iu Scotland and on. 

 the effects of inoculation, 1905-1909, R. P. Wbight ( West of Scot. Agr. Col. 

 Ann. Rpt. 10 (1911), pp. 157-170).— The author found that alfalfa grew quite 

 successfully on a cold clay soil in the wet, smoky climate of Glasgow, but must 

 not be sown with a nurse or companion crop. Seeding in rows for cultivation 

 proved desirable. The application of nitrate of soda and inoculation with bac- 

 terial cultures proved equally effective in increasing the yield but the latter 

 was more economical. 



Variety test of corn and cotton, 1911, M. V. Calvin (Georgia Sta. Circ. 

 67, pp. 2). — In a test of 17 varieties of corn Vallenweider Blend, Harley Im- 

 proved, and Whatley Improved produced 25 bu. or more of shelled corn per 

 acre each. Vallenweider Blend stood second in shelling percentage and small- 

 ness of number of ears required to make a bushel of shelled corn. 



In a test of 28 cotton varieties McElhenny Cleveland and Wannamaker Cleve- 

 land produced over 1,700 lbs. of seed cotton per acre each and had 99.5 and 97.2 

 per cent, respectively, of the cotton picked by October 3. 



An improved method of artifi.cial pollination in corn, G. N. Collins and 

 J. H. Kempton (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Circ. 89, pp. 7, figs. 2). — 

 Directions are given for insuring self-pollinated seed by the use of strong paper 

 tubes about 4 in. in diameter and 40 in. long which lead from the tassel to the 

 ear to be fertilized. 



Papers and reports on cotton cultivation, W. R. Dunstan (London: In- 

 ternat. Assoc. Trop. Agr. and Colon. Development, 1911, pp. VIII+320, pi. 1). — 

 This is supplementary to a reiwrt already noted (E. S. R., 25, p. 233). It is 

 made up of the papers submitted by the cotton authorities of different coun- 

 tries and presented to the International Congress of Tropical Agi-iculture, 

 Brussels, May, 1910. 



Sug'g'estions on growing Egyptian cotton in the Southwest, C. S. Scofield 

 (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Doc. 717, pp. 10). — Directions for the pro- 

 duction of Egyptian cotton in the Southwest are followed by a statement of 

 the advantages of cooperation in shipping, marketing, ginning, baling, seed pro- 

 duction, and the exclusion of Upland and other types of cotton. 



