FIELD CROPS. 445 



The deterioration of corn in storage, J. W. T. Dtjv'el {JJ. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. 

 Plant Indus. Circ. //3, pp. 12, figs. 3). — This circular reports an investigation 

 of the deterioration of 5,550 bii. of shelled coru during 69 days storage in a 65 

 ft. bin in a Baltimore elevator. The variations in vi'eather conditions and of 

 the temperature and moisture content of the grain during the time of storage 

 are stated in full. Nine hundred bu. of damaged coru from the top of the bin 

 were removed, dried, loaded as for shipment, and held on the track 37 days 

 without deterioration in condition, whereas 900 bu. of the best cool corn from 

 the same bin, loaded without drying, became sour and musty in 23 days. After 

 unloading, handling over 5 elevators, weighing 3 times, and reloading, it again 

 heated within 9 days. 



The i-eport is regarded as preliminary, and the generalization of results and 

 formulation of definite conclusions are deferred until the investigations are 

 more advanced. 



Origin of the Hindi cotton, O. F. Cook (U. S. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. 

 Circ. .'i2, pp. 12, figs. 2). — Hindi cotton lias a very short staple, and its pres- 

 ence in Egyptian seed constitutes an obstacle to the introduction of varieties 

 from that country, as labor here is not sufficiently cheap to allow it to be 

 sorted out from the longer and more marketable staple, as is done in Egypt. 

 It may prove possible to destroy the plants early in the growing season. Some 

 of its distinctive characters are the larger number of vegetative branches at the 

 lower nodes, assuming a more upright position, the thinner, lighter-colored 

 leaves with very short lateral lobes, a red pulvinus at the base of the leaf 

 blade, nearly orbicular involucral bracts, long-pointed triangular lobes of the 

 calyx, and a petal spot, faint if present, but often entirely lacking. Other dis- 

 tinctive characters appear later in the develoiiment of the plant. 



The history of the variety and its supposed relationships to American upland 

 varieties, Mexican varieties, and Egyptian varieties, are discussed. Hindi 

 cotton appears to be of American origin instead of a result of hybridization 

 with Egyptian or other old world species, but is not identical with any of the 

 United States upland varieties, being more closely allied with upland cotton 

 indigenous in Mexico and Central America. Since Egyptian and other sea 

 island types appear to have originated in the tropical countries the Hindi 

 variants may be examples of reversion. This fact is supported by the re- 

 semblance between Hindi foliage and that of young plants of the Egyptian 

 cotton. 



Supply and distribution of cotton, D. C. Roper (Bur. of the Census [V. 8.1 

 Bui. 106, pp. 32, dgms. Jf). — The data and discussions given in this bulletin 

 continue those previously noted (E. S. R., 20, p. 932). The total supply of 

 cotton in the United States for the year ended August 31, 1909, is given as 

 15,312.S85 running bales, and the net imports and exports as 165.451 and 

 8,574,024 running bales, respectively. 



The Sixth International Congress of Delegated Representatives of Master 

 Cotton Spinners' and Manufacturers' Associations, 1909 (Internat. Cong. 

 Master Cotton Spinners" and Manfrs.'' Assocs., 6 (1909), pp. 352, pis. 10, dgms. 

 3). — In conectiou with the report of the proceedings of this congress, addresses 

 are presented on cotton growing in the possessions of Belgium, England, France, 

 Germany, Italy, and Russia, and on the regulation of the supply of cotton in 

 England, Switzerland, and France. Data on variety and other tests conducted 

 in the Belgian Congo are also included. 



Note on the extension of cultivation of fiber plants in India (Agr. Re- 

 search Inst. Pusa [India] Bui. 15, 1909, pp. IJ^). — Notes are given on jute, Bom- 

 bay hemp, Crotolaria juncea, coconut, Rhea, Agave, pineapple, Sansevieria, flax, 



