1122 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



Experiments made at the station showed that Michigan Favorite. Warren New 

 Hybrid. Warren Extra Early. Groite. Extra Early Blaokeye. and New Era may 

 be classed as early varieties : Early Black, Whippoorwill. Early Boolock, Iron, 

 California Blackeye. and Black as medium early, and Red and Clay as late varie- 

 ties. One bushel of seed per acre drilled seemed to be the most economical quan- 

 tity to use. esi)ecially when seed is high. The difference in yield of cultivated 

 and uncultivated plats seemed to be clearly in favor of those not cultivated. 



A comparison of the meteorological records for June, July. August, and Septem- 

 ber shows that September is a more favorable month for haymaking than June, 

 there being less rain, more clear days, a higher maximum temperature, and more 

 wind. 



The value of the cowpea crop is estimated at ij!12.80 per acre when grown for 

 hay, and $13.75 per acre when grown for seed. 



Observations on millets, V. A. Clark (Arizona Sta. Bui. 5Ji. pp. lH^-121). — • 

 Brief descriptions are given of cultural experiments with German, Hungarian, 

 Hog, Japanese, Texas, and I'earl millets. Pearl, German, and Hungarian millets 

 were most effective in keeping down weeds. In palatability these varieties also 

 seemed to rank first. It is concluded that German millet is the best variety for 

 that climate. 



Soy bean varieties, C. R. Ball {TJ. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 98, 

 pp. 2S, pis. 5, figs. 2). — The history of the soy bean and its variability are dis- 

 cussed, and the varieties classified in accordance with a key worked out for the 

 purpose. Descriptions of 23 varieties are given, and they are classified accord- 

 ing to the color of their seed into black-seeded, brown-seeded, mottled-seeded, 

 green-seeded, greenish-yellow-seeded, and yellow-seeded groups. A list of syno- 

 nyms is also given. 



Investigations on the effect of nitrite and inoculating soil on soy beans, 

 A. Stutzer (Jour. Landic, 65 {191)1), Xo. 1-2, pp. 78-80). — These observations 

 were made under pot culture and field conditions. The use of nitrite and 

 sodium nitrate caused a luxuriant development of the plants, and no injurious 

 effect from nitrite was observed. AVhen the plants were taken up in the fall 

 no root nodules were found. 



In earlier experiments it was observed that nitrite [iroduced an injurious 

 effect on the germination of red clover seed, but no injurious results were noticed 

 in connection with the germination of the soy beans. 



The soil inoculation test was made with soil secured from a soy bean field 

 in Jap;in. The first year only a few nodules were formed on the roots, but the 

 second year when the crop was sown on the same i>lat the roots were provided 

 with numerous nodules, showing that the nodule-producing bacteria had suc- 

 cessfully survived the winter. 



References to recent work in plant breeding, C. Fruwirth (Jour. Lundir., 

 55 (1907), No. 1-2, pp. I.'i3-159). — References are given to 3G articles and pub- 

 lications reporting work in i)lant breeding or discussing this subject. 



A quick method for the determination of moisture in grain, E. Brown and 

 J. W. T. DuvEL (U. /S'. Dept. Agr.. Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 99, pp. 2//, pjs. 12).— A 

 method, with the apparatus required, for making complete moisture determina- 

 tions of grain in from 20 to 2.5 minutes is described. 



The work reported has reference mainly to the determination of moisture 

 in corn, and the method described consists primarily in heating a definite 

 quantity in an oil bath to drive oft' the water, which is condensed and measured 

 in a graduated cylinder. The average moisture content of 28 samples of corn, 

 as determined by this (]uick method, was 17.40'iier cent, as compared with 17.2ti 

 per cent, the average of the determinations made in a water oven. Whole ker- 

 nels were used in order to obviate the loss of water due to grinding. It was 



