828 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. 



hybrid, and of its component species, C. laburnum and C. purpureus. The 

 authors claim to have found tlie same differences and resemblances in the 

 wood of known sexual hybrids as were recognized in C. adami. 



Ingrowing' sprouts of Solanum tuberosum, C. S. Gagee {Abs. in Science, 

 ti. scr., 35 (1912), No. 891, pp. 159, 160). — ^A description is given of potatoes in 

 which the sprouts had grown through the tubers that bore them, ramifying 

 freely and producing roots and small tubers within the large seed tuber. In- 

 vestigation failed to show the presence of any enzyms by which the channels 

 of the ingrowing sprouts could have been digested, and there appeared positive 

 evidence that the sprouts made their way through the tissue by mechanical 

 pressure. The experiments, in connection with the behavior of the original 

 abnormality, led the author to believe that it is a case of the reversal of polarity 

 in the shoots. 



The breeding of tropical orchids from seeds, H. Bubgeff (Die Anzucht 

 troinschcr Orchideen aus Samen. Jena, 1911, pp. 90; abs. in Bot. Centbl., Ill 

 (1911), No. 25, pp. 655, 656). — This relates to the author's attempts to germi- 

 nate orchids from seeds with and without fungi (E. S. R., 23, p. 133). The 

 methods described have as a basis the symbiotic relations of the orchid to its 

 root fungi. The author also gives an elementary but thorough discussion of 

 the individual cultures. 



The microscopic differences between hemp and flax fiber, P. Sonntag (Ber. 

 Deut. Bot. Gesell., 29 (1911), No. 10, pp. ()69-67i ) .—Findings are given from 

 the author's studies on the markings of the bast cells of Linum and Cannabis, 

 which have hitherto been either neglected or pronounced structureless. He 

 reports several characteristic differences, notably as regards their twist on 

 being wet, which in flax was found in every case left handed, and hemp only 

 right-handed. 



FIELD CROPS. 



Some principles of dry farming, L. R. Waldkon (North Dakota Sta. Bui. 

 96, pp. Jt25-Ji65, figs. 11). — Discussions of the structure, mechanical composi- 

 tion, and texture of the soil ; of moisture and its absorption and use by plants, 

 and of the theory of the dirt mulch, are followed by a statement of the general 

 principles to be considered when farming under dry-farming conditions. 

 Special applications of these and other principles are made to the production 

 of wheat, flax, oats, barley, winter grains, corn, alfalfa, and live stock. 



Disking stubble at the time of harvesting in 1911, at Dickinson, apparently 

 increased the amount of moisture found a month later in each of the first 6 ft. 

 of soil, excepting the second foot, the net gain for the G ft. being 1.57 in. 



Subsoiling the clay soil of the Red River Valley at the station 8 in. below a 

 6-in. furrow increased the yields of the last season's crop when done in the 

 fall, but was followed by a decrease when done in the spring for the same 

 season's crop. The increased yields were insufficient to pay for the added cost. 



Photographs of the cereal yields, taken from square yard areas of plats given 

 various cultural treatments during 1911, indicate the I'elative yields. 



Data obtained at Dickinson in 1911 indicate the loss of soil moisture from 

 the surface foot of soil at the rate of 10 tons per acre per day for the period 

 from June 12 to July 1. From other data it is concluded that cultivation con- 

 served 1.88 in. of water in the surface 6 ft. of soil between May 1 and harvest 

 time. 



Report of division of agronomy, W. C. Ethekidge (North Carolina Sta. Rpt. 

 1911, pp. 16-21). — These pages report the results of tests of 59 corn varieties, 

 39 cotton varieties, 23 fall-oat varieties, 26 varieties of cowpeas, 21 of soy 



