636 EXPEKIMENT STATION EECORD. 



Heterozygote seeds are not infrequent in foreign lots, btit are rare in Ameri- 

 can varieties. Natural crossing is probably the work of large bumblebees. 



The author believes the breeder of co\vi>eas purely for forage purposes 

 should emphasize particularly size and vigor, habit, with esi>ecial reference to 

 erectness and height, prolificacy, disease resistance, weevil resistance of seeds, 

 retention of leaves late in the season, time of maturity or life period, and even- 

 ness of maturity. The ideal forage variety is described in detail, and the 

 Whippoorwill, New Era, and Iron are cited as existing varieties approachir.g 

 this ideal. 



The author finds that it is impossible to identify many of the varieties that 

 have been used in experimental work. " In the main the names have been 

 preserved only in a traditional way by seedsmen. This method of identification 

 is often unreliable, as different varieties in many cases have very similar 

 seeds." Some varieties such as Whipixiorwill, New Era, Iron, Taylor, and 

 Blackeyed Lady can be satisfactorily identified because no other common 

 varieties have similar seeds. Many names, however, as Black, Clay. Unknown, 

 Red Ripper, Blackeye, Browneye. and Crowder apply to groups instead of 

 varieties, as they indicate primarily a color or shape of seed. 



In these studies foreign varieties of cowpeas were found inferior as a rule. 

 " Everything considered, the best varieties of cowpeas tested are Whippoor- 

 will, New Era, and Iron, and recent hybrids of these, including Brabham and 

 Groit." 



Report of experiment (1909) on the best seed of Potato oats, A. N. M'Alpine 

 {West of Scot. Agr. Col. Ann. Rpt. 10 {1911), pp. 225-229, figs. -'/).— The author 

 divides oat seed samples into large seeds and small see<is. The large seeds 

 Include (1) singles, or kernels that bear rudiments that might have developed 

 into bosom oats but did not, and (2) firsts, or oats in which the rudiments did 

 so develop. The small seeds are made up of seconds, or bosom oats broken 

 froni the firsts. 



This experiment was conducted to determine the relative producing power of 

 singles, firsts, and seconds. Firsts produced heavier yields of straw and grain 

 than either the seconds or the singles. The seconds produced more straw and 

 less gi*ain per acre than the singles. The differences reported range from 2.3 

 to 36 per cent in terms of the weight yielded by the singles. 



Potato experimental fields, 1910-11, G. Seymoub (Jour. Dept.Agr. Victoria, 

 9 {1911), Wo. 9, pp. 630-639). — These pages state the results of variety and 

 fertilizer tests with potatoes in a number of different localities as well as 

 tests of susceptibility to Irish blight and the possibility of improving the crop 

 by planting full-crowned tubers. 



Potato experiments in Southern District, H. Ross {Agr. Gaz. N. S. Wales, 

 22 {1911), No. 10, pp. 885, 886). — Eight potato varieties were tested at each 

 of 4 farms. 



Potato experiments on the South Coast, R. N. Makin {Agr. Gaz. y. S. Wales, 

 22 {1911), No. 10, p. 887).— The results of fertilizer and variety tests of pota- 

 toes conducted at 3 farms are stated. 



Suggestions to potato growers on irrigated lands, L. C. Corbett ( U. S. Dept. 

 Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Circ. 90, pp. 6). — In view of the difficulties which have 

 confronted potato growers on the irrigated lands of western Nebraska, and 

 northeastern Colorado during the past year, the author gives directions for 

 potato production on irrigated lands. 



Report on sugar beet experiments, 1911, D. Turner {Agr. Students' Gas., 

 11. ser., 15 {1911), No. 5. pp. 133-139). — Notes on fertilizer tests with sugar 

 beets, and on level plantings in rows ranging from 16 to 21 in. apart and on 



