FIELD CROPS. 137 



A second portion of this long period experiment was devoted to tests of 

 commercial fertilizer. The plats were planted in uniform ci'oppings from 1891 

 to 1898. Tables state in detail the yields secured during 189i>-1905. During 

 this period stable manure, acid phosphate, nitrate of soda, muriate of potash, 

 and a mixetl commercial fertilizer were tested singly and in various mixtures 

 for beets, potatoes, corn, oats, wheat, beans and turnips, but no conclusions 

 are drawn. 



The horticulturist reports better potato yields following a mixture of 194 

 lbs. of nitrate of soda, 357 lbs. dried blood, 1,000 lbs. of acid phosphate, 400 

 lbs. of sulphate of potash, and 49 lbs. of filler applied at the rate of 500 

 lbs. per acre than were secured from the use of a complete potato fertilizer 

 or a mixture of 570 lbs. of dried blood. 1,000 lbs. of acid phosphate. 400 lbs. 

 sulphate of jwtash, and 30 lbs. of filler. 



Cooperative grain investigations at McPherson, Kans., 1904-1909, V. L. 

 Cory (U. S. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. I'Utnt Indus. Bui. 2JiO, pp. 22).— This is a report 

 of work carrieil on in cooperation with the Kansas Station. 



Among the winter wheat varieties tested Turkey, Kharkof. and Crimean 

 produced the highest 4-year-average yields, 25.9, 24.53, and 23.88 bu. per acre, 

 respectively. Three varieties planted about the middle of September, 1905, 

 gave an average yield of 7.78 bu. pev acre as compared with 20.46 bu. secured 

 from the same varieties planted about a month later. 



Among barley varieties tested Caucasian, Yenidje, and Odessa produced the 

 highest 4-year average yields, 30.32, 28.57, and 28 bu. per acre, respectively. 

 Among varieties of oats tested Sixty Day and Seventy-five Day gave 4-year 

 average yields of 37.56 and 30.54 bu. per acre, respectively. Among the other 

 grains tested Proso proved a failure in all trials, but a few varieties of non- 

 irrigated rices were promising. Kubanka wheat gave a 4-year avei'age yield 

 of 13.43 bu.. Black Winter emmer 52.16 bu., winter einkorn 19.85 bu., spring 

 einkorn 22.8 bu.. and Keil Winter spelt 46.8 bu. i>er acre. Each of 3 winter 

 ryes tested yielded 19 bu. or over per acre. 



Buckwheat gave fair results, the Sando Soba variety of the Japanese tyiie 

 apparently being the best of the 12 or 15 varieties tested. Chinese buckwheats 

 are hardier and more drought resistant but longer in maturing. Plantings 

 during the third and fourth weeks of April gave better results than those made 

 at earlier or later dates. 



The author states that the suspension of seed for 15 minutes in a solution 

 of 1 lb. of formalin to 50 gal. of water will prevent oat smut, the stinking 

 smut of wheat, and the covered smut of barley, but caused no appreciable 

 diminution in the loose smuts of wheat or barley. A modified hot-water treat- 

 ment used was applied by soaking wheat and barley in cold water for 7 hours 

 and then treating for 15 minutes at 54 and 52° C. i-espectively, and 10 minutes 

 treatment of oats at 57° without soaking. In the crop following these treat- 

 ments there was no smut in the oats, no loose smut in the wheat, and in 

 case of the barley only a trace of loose smut in 3 A^arieties. 



Studies of the principal buckwheat species, E. MifecE {Recherches sur les 

 principales ct^peccs de Fagopyrum. Parin, 1010, vol. 1, pp. Jf26; rev. in Intemat. 

 Inst. Agr. [Rome'], Bui. Bur. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 2 (1911), No. 5, pp. 

 lOo-i, 1055). — This volume presents a comprehensive study of buckwheat species 

 and varieties. The author gives measurements and 1,000-kernel weights for use 

 in distinguishing the 4 species Fagopyrum esculentum, F. tataricum, F. steno- 

 carpa, and F. emarginatum, and for distinguishing 6 varieties of F. esculentum. 

 A review of the status of buckwheat growing in the world's agriculture is fol- 

 lowed by discussions as to the production and improvement of the crop. 



