436 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The woi'k with small fruits, vegetables. lierimida gi'i^ss, cassava, sugar-cane, 

 and live stock is briefly outlined. 



Five years' results on the sewage irrigation fields of Arad, .7. (Jyakfas 

 {ZUclu: Laiuhf. Vcrsvchsw. Ostcrr.. D {I'JOG), 'So. i), pi). S.JD-S90).—A history 

 is given of the sewage irrigation field and its management is described. 



Vegetable culture gave in general unsatisfactory results. Kale for forage, 

 poppy, corn grown for grain, and potatoes were also unprofitable. The sun- 

 flower was observed to transpire greater quantities of water than any other 

 crop grown on the field. It made a very luxuriant growth, but was un- 

 profitable on account of the difficulties in the way of its use. Broom corn pro- 

 duced brush from GO to 100 cm. long and of the required degree of fineness. 

 The yield of hemp under sewage Irrigation was lower than the average yield 

 for the entire country, but the fiber secured was of proper quality. Barnyard 

 millet made an extremely heavy growth, while sugar beets were not successful. 

 Fodder beets were the only hoed crop which gave gQod I'cturns. Ridgo culture 

 for the fSdder beet produced better yields than level culture, and beets grown 

 from the seed without transplanting were more successful than transplanted 

 beets. 



Errors in field tests due to lack of soil uniformity, (i. Holtsmark and 

 B. R. Larsein (LaiKhr. Ices'. ^St(lt.. C.J { 1!)0U), Ao. 1-2. pi). 1-22, (liims. //). — This 

 article, previously noted in E. S. K.. 17. p. 9G3, appears here in German. 



The Svalbf method for breeding agricultural plants and its relation to 

 the theory of selection, II. de Veies (Sepunitc from. Arch. Rassen. ii. GcscU. 

 Biol, 3 {1906), No. 3, pp. 3-'i5-338). — A detailed description is given of the 

 method followed at Svalof in improving agricultural plants. The matter pre- 

 sented is compiled with a view to discussing from a scientific standpoint the 

 value of the principle of selection in plant improvement. 



The chemical composition of Washington forage crops, R. W. Thatcher 

 (Wdsliington »S7a. Bnl. 12, pp. 21, dgm. 1). — The experiments in progress have 

 for their object the determining of the chemical composition of the hay crops 

 as now cured in the eastern sections of the State, the variations and composition 

 of hay from the same plant when grown under different conditions and in dif- 

 ferent sections, the analyses of several of the leading forage crops of the State 

 in different stages of maturity, and the effect of different conditions and meth- 

 ods of curing upon the chemical composition of the hay. These investigations 

 will require several years of study, and this bulletin is a report of only the first 

 year's work. 



The samplers an.-ilyzeil are briefly described and the composition of grass hay, 

 grain hay, hay from leguminous crops, fodders, silage, and root crops, as deter- 

 mined by analyses, is given in tables. The digestible nutrients in the feeding 

 stuffs analyzed are also shown. 



The analyses show that the common grass hays, grain hays, and alfalfa hay 

 contain about the s.nme amounts of total digestible nutrients, but in widely differ- 

 ent proportions, the grass hays being richest in carbohydrates and alfalfa 

 richest in protein, while the grain hays contain these substances in a fairly 

 well-balanced i)roportion for a maintenance ration. The analysis of timothy 

 hay shows a surplus of carbohydrates and that of alfalfa of protein. It is 

 stated that neither timothy nor alfalfa can be fed alone without waste. Alfalfa 

 iiay from irrigated sections appeared to be richer in ])rotein than that grown 

 without irrigation. It was also found" that the total nutrients of alfalfa hay 

 were about the same regardless of the stage of growth at which the crop was 

 cut, but the proportion of protein was nnicli greater when the crop w.ns cut 

 early than when cut late. From these results it is concluded that the riper the 

 crop gets the more nearly it approaches to a balanced ration and the safer and 



