36 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



[Advice on prickly pear destruction] {Queensland Bd. Advice PHcldy Pear 

 Destruc., Interim Rpt. 1, 1911, pp. 19). — This report, presented to tlie Louses 

 of Parliament of Queensland, deals with the destruction of the prickly pear by 

 such mechanical means as stacking, burning, rolling, and plowing in, by poison- 

 ing with or without subsequent burning, by diseases or insect enemies, and by 

 utilization as fodder or in other ways. 



San hemp (Crotolaria juncea), P. C. Paxil {Dept. Agr. Bombay Bui. Jp, 

 1911, pp. 9). — A botanical description of the plant and statement of its uses is 

 followed by suggestions for growing the crop and retting it. 



Grain-sorg'hura production in the San Antonio region of Texas, C. R. Ball 

 and S. H. Hastings {U. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 237, pp. 80^ 

 figs. Jf). — The San Antonio region of Texas is adapted to the production of 

 grain sorghums, but they have failed to set seed. This condition, known as 

 "blast," has been attributed to the removal of pollen bj^ heavy rains during 

 the blooming period. The authors report experiments during which it was 

 discovered that this trouble was caused by the sorghum midge (Contarinia 

 (Diplosis) sorghicola). They also describe attempts to find resistant A-arieties 

 and state the results of experiments indicating the possibility of avoiding the 

 work of midges by early planting. 



Life history studies supplemented by those of Dean (E. S. R., 23, p. 364) are 

 reported. " IMore than 1.000 [midges] have been hatched from a single head 

 of sorghum. Observations and experiments in 190S and 1909 failed to find 

 midge-resistant sorghums in any group." In 1910, early planting experi- 

 ments indicated that the crop could be brought to the blooming stage before 

 the midge was present in sufficient numbers to be very injurious. In 1911, the 

 average yield of all varieties planted March 4 was 23.1 bn., and of the best 

 early variety 32 bu. per acre. Corn on similar land in the same season yielded 

 an average of 10 bu. per acre. Planting as late as April 1 proved unprofitable 

 because of midge injury and drought, but when planted INIarch 15 early varieties 

 yielded very well, while later varieties yielded more poorly. INIilo and Dwarf 

 milo maize, Manchu kowliang, and White durra are tlie earliest varieties. 

 Sudan durra and Dwarf Kafir corn are also jiromising. 



The authors recommend the destruction of Johnson grass and sorghum plants 

 in fence corners and waste places, in order that fewer midges may survive the 

 winter and that the succeeding crops may be more likely to flower without 

 infestation. In view of the results of experiments they also recommend fall 

 plowing for conserving moisture and state that for prompt and uniform germi- 

 nation a thoroughly prepared seed bed is essential. Kowliangs should be 

 planted 5 to 6 in. apart in rows ?>i feet apart, milo maize and durras fi'om 6 to 

 8 in. apart, and Kafir corn from 8 to 10 in. apart. The date of planting should 

 be as near March 1 as possible, as the risk from late spring frosts is more 

 than compensated by avoiding the midge and drought injury. 



Observations on the early flowering' of the sugar beet, O. Muneeati (Mal- 

 pigliia, 2.'/ {1911), No. 2, pp. 173-lSl). — Sowings of G varieties of sugar beets 

 at intervals from November 14 to June 15 indicated a decisive effect of the time 

 of sowing on the tendency to premature flowering, but no relation between the 

 number of plants flowering the first year and the yield secured. 



Of the beets sown November 15 and December 23, 55 and 65 per cent, respec- 

 tively, flowered during the first season, but after that time the percentage 

 decreased steadily until of those sown March 14 only about 1 per cent flowered, 

 and of those sown April 26 or later none flowered the first season. The com- 

 position of the large, medium, and small beets, as shown by analyses, is reported 

 In tabular form. 



