FIELD CROPS. 131 



as or greater tliau the given one will occur and, second, the odds against the 

 occurrence of such deviations. 



Note on th.e accuracy of bushel weight determinations, C. W. Baebeb 

 (Maine Sta. Bui. 226 (lOlJf), pp. 69-75, figs. 2). — After testing the accuracy of 

 different methods of filling the bucket of the ordinary grain tester the author 

 gives data to show that with oats the one wherein the grain was poured into 

 the bucket and settled by shaking five times gave more accurate results than 

 filling by dipping and with and without settling. It is noted that " this 

 method, in comparison with that involving no settling of the grain, lowers the 

 standard deviation 38.5 per cent and the coefficient of variation 44.9 per cent." 



It was found that the standard grain tester gave results of a high degree of 

 accuracy. 



Note on the influence of shape and size of plats in tests of varieties of 

 grain, C. W. Barber (Maine Sta. Bui. 226 (VMJt), pp. 76-84).— In this paper the 

 author discusses the significance of lieavy and light seeding, of the length of 

 the periphery of different sized and shajied plats, of the relation of an area 6 in. 

 wide within the border of a plat to the total area of the plat, and of the rela- 

 tion of marginal drill length to total drill lengh in different shaped plats in 

 the calculations of comparative yiekls in variety tests. 



Data and computations are presented in support of the conclusions that " of 

 rectangular plats of a unit area a square has the shortest periphery and 

 accordingly presents the smallest nunil)er of plants along the borders. There- 

 fore a square plat is a more accurate basis for the determination of the value 

 of varieties than anj' other rectangular shaped plat of equal area. It is clear 

 that in a long narrow plat more plants will be subjected to the conditions 

 afforded by the pathways than in a square of the same area. Also, in small 

 plats proportionately more plants will stand along the border than in large 

 plats." 



Deep plowing and sub^iling, A. II. Wright {Oklahoma Sta. Circ. 26 (1914), 

 pp. 8). — This circular reports results in subsoil plowing for 10 years with corn, 

 cotton, and oats on a medium, upland soil, described as physically a silt loam. 

 It is concluded that subsoiling was not advisable as a farm practice, as neither 

 soil moisture nor crop yield were increased thereby. 



The improvement of plants, L. Blaringhem (Le Perfectionnement des 

 Plantes. Paris, 1913, pp. XII-\-13-192, figs. 30).— This work contains 7 chapters, 

 discussing plant collections and botanical gardens, polymorphism of cultivated 

 plants, pure lines and pedigrees, crossing of species, crossing of varieties, hybrid 

 mutations and selection, with a bibliography on each topic. 



The breeding of forage grasses, H. Lang {Jahresber. Vcr. Angew. Bot., 10 

 (1912), pp. 1-11, figs. 2). — This article reviews recent work in the breeding of 

 grasses, describes modern methods, and gives plans for breeding plats. 



The history of the cultivated cereals, I, A. Schtilz {Die GescMchte der 

 kultivierten Getreide, I. Halle, 1913, pp. 134). — This book gives the histories of 

 wheat, rye, barley, and oats as derived from the most authoritative literature 

 on the subject. Bibliographies are found at the end of each chapter. 



Some further observations on the culture of legumes with special refer- 

 ence to nitrogen assimilation, B. Heinze (Jahresher. Ver. Angew. Bot., 10 

 (1912), pp. 75-Jfi4).— Continuing previous work (E. S. R., 20, p. 740; 24, p. 430), 

 the author reviews certain literature on this subject and discusses some 

 phases of inoculation with pure cultures and with soil in different soil types 

 with lupines and serradella, and in rotation with other legumes. 



The inoculation of legumes, P. E. Brown (Iowa Sta. Circ. 8 (1913), pp. S-I4, 

 figs. 5). — This circular describes the soil transfer and pure culture methods of 

 inoculation,s and discusses their efficiency in field practice. 



