FIELD CROPS. 485 



pre] in rod hy tlic ri'i'iiicntnlioii nf hoilcil soy li(>;iiis. coiitnins liu-j^c ainoniils of 

 iinicil;if;o, and tlit' viscosily <it' the iiiixluri' is i's|K'i-iaIly cstoemod. 



A study was luado liy the author to deteniiiiie the hacteria present, and 

 aIthon.i,'h many species were found to grow on soy beans, the genuine natto 

 could i)e produced only hy the i>resenee of 2 species, which are designated as 

 Bacillus No. 1 and P.acillus No. 2. It is probable that for the formation of 

 good natto cheese both species must be present. 



In order to test for enzyms produced on soy beans by the Iiacteria, jirecipi- 

 tates were made and tested, in which way it was found that the enzym was of 

 a tryptic nature. Bacillus No. 2 also i)rodueed a diastatic enzym, and from 

 these facts it is inferred tiiat natto may have some beneficial influence on 

 digeslion. 



The drug known as pinkroot, W. \V. Stockbergeu (U. S. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. 

 riuiit Indus. Iii;I. 100. jif. '). iJj). <S, /)?.s-. 2, pfis. 2). — The drug known as pinkroot 

 (l^l)i(/cH<i marilandicd) came into use in America about 1728, and because of its 

 valuable proi)erties soon came to occupy an important place in materia raedica. 

 Conflicting reports on its physiological effects appeared from time to time, and 

 its use has greatly decreased. 



The cause of the apparent lo>s of higli elliciency has Iieen a subject for study 

 for some years, and it is demonstrated that a substitute has to a considerable 

 degree replaced the true article. This explains in a large measure its un- 

 favorable commercial and medical status. 



Results are outlined in the bulletin of a detailed study of the pinkroot and its 

 more important adulterants, which may serve to aid collectors and drug 

 experts in distinguishing the plant from its sophistications. 



International catalogue of scientific literature. M — Botany (Internal. 

 Cat. .sci. Lit., 'i (1!)0G), pi)- T//7+ .95/).— -This is the fourth annual issue of the 

 catalogue of scientific papei's compiled and published by the International 

 Council of the Royal Society of England, and includes the literature of 1904 

 with some titles omitted from previous issues. About 4,600 titles are enumer- 

 ated, the plan of grouping being about the same as that previously noted (E. S. 

 R.. 14. p. <i;i7: 17, 1). 7.52). 



FIELD CROPS. 



Report of work at McNeill Branch Experiment Station, E. B. Ferris 

 (.l//.v.v/.s.s/;j/;i ,Sta. Rpt. 1905, pp. 31-33). — The work of the station for the year 

 is briefly noted. 



The results of fertilizer experiments showed that on the land i)arked with 

 cattle during the winter of 1902-3 there was a yield of 1,.S00 lbs. more of 

 seed cotton per acre than on three check plats. As a fertilizer for cowpeas 

 acid phosphate alone gave practically as good yield as a complete fertilizer, 

 and drilling l bu. of seed produced as much pea hay as the use of 1 bu. of 

 seed iier acre. Good stands of alfalfa, crinison clover, and hairy vetch are 

 reportt>d. The hairy vetch was sown in the fall of 1902 and is reported as 

 being in a most promising condition. Inoculating the vetch field produced a 

 more vigf)rous growth and a good stand. 



Subsoiling at the station has not shown any very marked results. This 

 year ?>~).7 bu. of corn and 900 lbs. of seed cotton were obtained on land prepared 

 5 in. deep, and 37.1 bu. of corn and 1,025 lbs. of seed cotton per acre on land 

 broken 18 in. deep during the spring of 1903. Rotation tests now in progress 

 for 3 years with cotton, corn, oats, and cowpeas resulted during the last 

 year on the rotation plat in a yield of 904 lbs. of seed cotton per acre as com- 

 pared with 724 lbs. on a plat similarly fertilized i)ut growing cotton continu- 

 ously for the same length of time. 



