FIELD CROPS. 31 



stiulies were made of buds of a nuuiber of trees, and the author reix>rts that 2 

 distiuct bud forms should be recognized. In the first the bud scales are at- 

 tached uniformly at the base of the bud, and fall when the young leaves have 

 begun their development. This is true in the case of the ash, horse chestnut, 

 maple, and apple, and the scales function only as protective organs. In the 

 second series the bud scales are arranged in spiral order, and as examples of 

 this the author cites ampelopsis, horn bean, beech, and hazel. In these during 

 the course of their development the scales become modified, develop some 

 chlorophyll, and have the function of young leaves. They fall later, only after 

 the development of the branch and expansion of the true leaves. 



Graft hybrids, R. P. Gregory [Gard. Chron., 3. ser., 50 (1911), Nos. 1288. 

 pp. 161-163, figs. 3; 1289, pp. 185, 186, fig. 1).—X description is given of the 

 graft hybrids Solanitm tnbingense, Cytisus udami, and Cratcngo-mcspilua as- 

 nieresii, and their origin as shown by the investigations of Winkler, Heuer, 

 Baiir, and others is discussed. 



International catalogue of scientific literature. M — Botany {Internat. Cat. 

 8ci. Lit., 9 {1911), pp. r///+S59).— This gives a bibliography of botanical 

 literature, most of which appeared in the years 1007-1909, 6,314 references 

 being included. The American literature is much more adequately represented 

 in the present volume than in the previous ones. 



FIELD CROPS. 



Classification of field crop varieties, F. Mkrkel {Mitt. Dent. Landic. GescIL, 

 26 (1911), No. 13, pp. 162-166). — The author classifies German varieties of field 

 crops in accordance with their adaptation to special uses. Potatoes, for in- 

 stance, are divided into groups of varieties high in yield of tubers, high in 

 starch content, and high in total starch yield. The article deals with wheat, 

 barley, mangels, sugar beets, potatoes, grasses, clover, and various legumes. 



[Wisconsin farm crops experiments], H. L. Russell (Wisconsin Sta. Bui. 

 218, pp. 15-20, figs. 3). — At the Ashland substation, the pedigree strains of 

 Green peas yielded at the rate of 50 bu. per acre and of Kharkov winter wheat 

 over 45 bu. per acre. 



"Western alfalfa seed grown in the latitude of Madison, Wis., proved entirely 

 satisfactory and work done indicates that the vitality of the seed is more im- 

 portant than the variety sown. In soy bean work the number of pods per plant 

 ranged from 30 to over 400. 



Tests of commercial bacterial cultures showed " that while in some instances 

 satisfactory inoculation has been secured, they are frequently unreliable, and 

 fail to produce nodules upon the roots of the respective legumes, while inocula- 

 tion with infected soil has been uniformly successful." 



The growing of hemp aided in checking the growth of Canada thistles and 

 quack grass. A S^-acre field infested with quack grass and Canada thistles 

 was heavily manured, plowed in July, harrowed weekly, and the loose roots 

 removed with a hay rake. A hemp crop sown at the rate of 1 bu. per acre the 

 following spring yielded over 2,100 lbs. of fiber per acre, valued at $118. and 

 " resulted in complete destruction of thistles, and nearly complete annihilation 

 of quack grass." 



A solution of 125 lbs. of common salt in 50 gal. of water proved as effective 

 as a 20 per cent iron sulphate solution for the eradication of mustard. The 

 salt is more easily obtained than, and costs about half as much as, the iron 

 sulphate. 



Results of cooperative experiments in agriculture, C. A. Zavitz and W. J. 

 Sqxjiruell (Ann. Ept. Ontario Agr. and E.rpt. Union, 32 (1910), pp. lJt-37).— 



