FIELD CROPS. 635 



Studies of Egyptian cotton, W. L. Balls (Yearbook Khediv. Agr. Soc. Cairo, 

 1909, pp. 1-1 'f7, figs. 53). — A general discussion of Mentlelian cotton breeding 

 is followed by an extended statement of the experimental results from a single 

 cross of Aflfi and Truitt. Extended studies of unit characters include the obser- 

 vations made on red spot, hairiness, and shape of the leaf ; height and branching 

 of the stem; color, foi-m, and formation of the flower; surface glandulation, 

 shape, and number of divisions of the boll; weight, fuzz distribution, and fuzz 

 color of the seed ; and length, color, regularity, weight, and quality of the lint. 

 Other chapters discuss the natural crossing of cotton, the output in ginning, 

 and the history, present status, and future of the cotton crop in Egypt. 



Report on the manurial trials on cotton carried out during the season 1908, 

 F. Hughes (YeurbooJc Khediv. Agr. Soc. Cairo, 1009, pp. 159-19Jf). — These 

 pages report the results of tests of superphosphate, sulphate of ammonia, and 

 nitrate of soda as fertilizers for cotton in Egypt. Numerous tables state the 

 physical and chemical analyses of the soils upon which the tests were con- 

 ducted, the yield at the various pickings, and the ginning output obtained in 

 the work at the various localities. 



The work was conducted in both Upper and Lower Egypt, but as the trials 

 in Upper Egypt were all considered more or less unsatisfactory the general 

 conclusions drawn refer only to trials in the Delta. But little difference was 

 observed among the yields obtained after the use of various amounts and mix- 

 tures of fertilizers. No relation was shown between the nitrogen in the soil 

 and the effect of the application of nitrogenous fertilizers. Other topics of 

 which the author gives a general discussion in view of the results of these 

 experiments are the relation of the average yield to the chemical composition 

 and physical properties of the soil, the effect of fertilizers on ginning output 

 and weight of seed, and the effect of early sowing on the time required for 

 maturity. 



Agricultural varieties of the cowpea and immediately related species, 

 C. V. Piper (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Ivdus. Bill. 229, pp. 160, jjIs. 12).— 

 The larger portion of this bulletin is devoted to a catalogue of the names and 

 descriptions of the agricultural varieties of the cowpea and some related 

 species, and to a consideration of the names that have been applied to the 

 varieties, in the literature of the subject, especially in experiment station 

 bulletins. It also presents the results of extended studies along botanical and 

 other lines of the cowpea Vigna sinensis, the catjang V. catjang, and the 

 asparagus bean V. sesquipedalis. They are treated as 3 separate species, 

 although the author states that they intergrade fully and all of them hybridize. 



In 8 years' work involving 370 lots of foreign seed, and about 630 lots 

 from the United States, 220 varieties of cowpeas, 50 of the catjang, and 35 of 

 the asparagus bean were found to be agronomically distinct. As all of them 

 hybridize "practically every combination of seed, color and shape, with habit 

 and life period can be obtained," i. e. a practically unlimited number of 

 varieties may be obtained. Among the types recognized viz, prostrate, pro- 

 cumbent, low half bushy, tall half bushy, and treelike or erect, the author 

 considers the tall half bushy type to be the most valuable agriculturally. 



Color and other seed characters are discussed with special reference to their 

 importance in the identification of species and varieties. 



At Madison, Ind. and at the ]\[iehigan Agricultural College, natural hybrid- 

 ization has occurred freely, but it is rare in the field in most localities. From 

 30 to 100 varieties have been grown side by side at the Arlington (Virginia) 

 Farm of this Department during the last 5 years without noticeable contamina- 

 tion. 



