132 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Influence of soil volume and available plant food on the ratio between 

 root development and yield of cereals, H. Burmester {Jour. Landw., 61 

 (1913), No. 2, pp. 135-152). — The results of 2 years' experiments with wheat, 

 rye, oats, and barley grown in pots of different sizes showed that the soil vol- 

 ume at the disposal of the plants had very little influence either on the abso- 

 lute weight of the roots or upon the ratio between the root and the above- 

 ground part in mature plants. 



It was found by reducing the amount of available plant food in the pots that 

 the growth of the above-ground part was curtailed much more severely than 

 was the root system, thus producing a narrower ratio between the parts than 

 when an optimum amount of food was available. It is noted, therefore, that 

 on poor grades of soil the above-ground part does not develop in proportion to 

 the richness of the soil, for the root development robs it in direct ratio to the 

 poverty of the soil. 



Leguminous crops in North Carolina, T. B. Parker {Btcl. N. C. Dept. Agr., 

 34 (1913), No. 7, pp. 5.'f, figs. 36). — This bulletin gives notes on the soil treat- 

 ment for legumes and methods of cultivation of red, mammoth, crimson, biu", 

 sweet, and Lespedeza clovers, alfalfa, vetches, cowpeas, soy beans, and velvet 

 beans. 



Some examples of the potash requirements of legumes, Clauscn (Illus. 

 Landw. Ztg., 33 (1913), No. 100, pp. 910, 911, figs. .4).— Results of several ex- 

 periments are given in which small yields were obtained with limited or no 

 applications of potash in the presence of otherwise complete fertilizers. "With 

 deficient applications of certain fertilizers, the yields of red clover were as 

 follows: With complete fertilizer 3.S30 kg. per hectare (about 3,419 lbs. per 

 acre) of dried bay, without nitrogen 3,970, without phosphoric acid 3,017, without 

 potash 2,3(50, and unfertilized 1.397 kg. 



Plants for the desert, H. Semler (BoJ. Min. Agr., Indus, c Com. [Brazil], 

 2 (1913), No. ^, pp. 71-96). — This article includes notes on about 30 kinds of 

 cultivated plants found in arid and semiarid districts, with a list of seedsmen 

 in several countries that handle such plants and their seeds or cuttings. 



Desert plants of Mexico, I. Ochoterena (Mem. if Rev. Soc. Cient. "AntOnio 

 Alzate," 33 (1913), No. IS, pp. 93-113, pis. i5).— This article discusses the 

 composition, structure, and classification of the agaves and yuccas found in 

 Durango. 



Field experiments, C. D. Woods (Maine Sta. Bui. 224 (1914), PP- 25-46). — 

 The results of 3 years' experiments at Highmoor farm indicated that little 

 was gained by the addition of Thomas slag as a top dressing for grass lands 

 other than maintaining the fertility of the soil. 



In regard to methods of planting potatoes it is noted that " in the 3 years' 

 exiJeriments comparing the usual method practiced in Aroostook County with 

 deeper planted seed and a lower, broader ridge than is commonly used there 

 showed that so far as yield was concerned there is nothing to choose in that 

 locality between the two methods. The deep planted and medium planted gave 

 practically the same yields at Highmoor farm with the advantage (though 

 within experimental error) in favor of the medium planted. The medium 

 planted and medium ridge gave considerably better yields at Highmoor farm 

 than the shallow planted and high ridge. The medium ridge is cultivated as 

 cheaply as the shallow ridge and is harvested nearly as easily. The deep 

 planted are cultivated at less cost than either of the two other methods but 

 are far more difficult to harvest. The results indicate that for Aroostook 

 County the shallow planted high ridge is well suited to the climatic conditions. 

 And they also clearly indicate that for the lower counties in the State with 



