FIELD CROPS. 535 



kernels indicntetl by the specific gravity test, showed a germination test of 

 100 per cent in eacli case. From 300 kernels taken from the "good" ear, 

 258 heavy grains had a germination percentage of 89, while the 42 light 

 grains had a germination percentage of G!.». Of OS heavy kernels from an 

 ear whose box germination test had shown 4 dead kernels and 1 weak one 

 out of 5, 47 per cent germinated, while of the 32 light kernels loi per cent 

 germinated. In a further test of 2,1 1<) kernels from ears that failed to ger- 

 minate in the box test. 54 per cent of the 51)2 heavy seeds germinated, while only 

 22 per cent of the 1,524 light kernels germinated. A field test showed a diffei'- 

 euce in yield of about 3 bu. per acre in favor of the heavy seed as separated by 

 the glucose solution. 



Report of work in corn pollination, M. L. Fisher (I'roc. liid. A(-ad. *S't'i., 

 1!J0S, i>i>. J-33, IS'i). — During \'.)us six studies were carried out in duplicate, of 

 which the I'esults of two studies are here reported. 



Reid Yellow Dent fertilized with pollen from Stowell Evergreen produced no 

 observable variation save a somewhat broader kernel, which might occur with- 

 out crossing. Fertilizing with iiolleu from a speckled variety produced no 

 change save f<ir a tVw whitish crowns. The pollen used was from tassels 

 plucked in the afternoon, sent through the mail, and used the following morning. 



When silks of Kooue ("ounty White were pollenized with pollen from Iteid 

 Yellow Dent, well-tilled ears with white crowns, yellowish kernels, somewhat 

 shorter than the usual Boone County White kernel, were obtained but this last 

 variation may have been due to extreme drought. The other characters of the 

 ear were unchanged. Three 5-ear lots were pollenized in duplicate with pollen 

 24, 48, and 72 hours old, respectively. The 24-hour old pollen produced well- 

 filled rows in all ears, while that 48 hours old left many vacant places, although 

 the ears were fairly well tilled. Practically no fertilization resulted from 

 pollen 72 hours old, the best ears containing but 8 or 10 kernels per cob. 



Cultivation of peanuts, R. G. Oses {Extiic. Cent. A<jron. Cuba, Bol. 18, pp. 

 J!)). — Descriptit)ns are given of several varieties of peanuts and directions for 

 their cultivation, harvesting, and preparation for market, together with a 

 statement of the soil requirements of the crop, and directions for seed selection. 

 Estimates of the i)rofits of the crop in Cuba are also included. 



Potato culture on irrigated farms of the West, E. H. Grubb ( U. S. Dcpt. 

 Ayr., Farmers' Bui. 3S6, pp. 13, figs. 3). — In this paper the author, a practical 

 I)otato grower of Colorado, discusses the preparation of the soil for potatoes, 

 planting by means of machines, relative merits of cutting the seed and of 

 planting whole tubers, cultivation, irrigation, storage, marketing, seed selec- 

 tion, selection of vai'ieties, and possible yields. 



The anatomical structure of the sugar beet in its relation to breeding 

 practice, J. .MciLLER (7^/. Ziickcrriihcithaii, 16 (190D). No. 19, pp. 289-29^). — 

 A bibliography and review of recent work on the histological, physiological, 

 microscopical, and polarization studies bearing upon the improvement of the 

 sugar beet. 



Growing sugar beet seed in South Dakota, J. H. Shepard {l8outh Dakota 

 8ta. Bui. Ill, pp. 597-609, figs. 4)- — This is a continuation of the cooperative 

 work with this Department previously noted (E. S. R., 20, p. 233), and reports 

 results with the home-grown seed produced in 1908 and with the new varieties 

 of seed sown during the year. 



In the final selection no mother beets were retained which fell below 15 per 

 cent sugar, while in some instances all below 18 per cent were rejected. Of 

 the 20 varieties jilanted in 1908 only the hardiest and most promising ones 

 were retained. Four of these showed a maximum sugar percentage of 19.S per 

 cent. New lots of seed obtained this year were divided into 2 parts to pre- 



