534 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECOED. 



means by which this may be accomplished on a community basis. Special atten- 

 tion is given to the preservation of the uniformity of varieties. 



" In order to maintain uniformity and produce commercial quantities of one 

 kind of cotton commimities should limit themselves to the cultivation and selec- 

 tion of a single superior variety. The choice of the variety to be grov?n, the 

 production of good seed, the determination of the date of planting and the 

 methods of cultivation, the harvesting, ginning, storing, and marketing of the 

 crop are all problems that can be solved to much better advantage by com- 

 munity cooperation than by individual planters vporking alone." 



Fibers used for binder twine, L. H. Dewey ( U. 8. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1911, 

 pp. 193-200, pis. 3). — This article points out the requirements of binder twine 

 fiber and gives descriptions of the following plants from which such fibers are 

 obtained: Abaca {Musa textiUs), henequen {Agave fourcroydcs) , sisal {A. sisa- 

 lana), Phormium or New Zealand hemp {Phormium tenax), Mauritius (Fur- 

 croca foetida), cabuya (F. cahuya and F. cabuya integra), Manila maguey 

 (Agave cantala), mescal maguey (Agave sp.), zapupe (A. zapupe, A. lespincssei, 

 and A. detvcyana), flax, and hemp. 



Manuring of hops, B. Dyer (Abs. in Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], IS (1912), 

 No. 11, p. 9Jf2). — The report states the yields secured in tests of phosphate, pot- 

 ash, nitrate of soda, and dung, applied singly and in various mixtures to hops 

 during the 16-year period 1896-1911 (E. S. R., 12, p. 46). 



The u.se of more than 4 cwt. of nitrate of soda was followed by very slight 

 increases of crop for the extra quantity. Chemical analyses and the estima- 

 tion of values showed no difference between the. hops grown with natural and 

 those grown with artificial fertilizers. Even after liberal fall or winter appli- 

 cations of natural or artificial fertilizers the author believes that a spring appli- 

 cation of 4 cwt. of nitrate of soda per acre is safe and profitable even in a wet 

 season. 



Orchard grass seed from different countries, F. G. Stebler and A. Volkart 

 (Landio. Jahrb. Sclnceiz, 25 (1911), No 2. pp. 111-188, figs. //).— The authors 

 briefly review some work of others and report the results of tests of seed from 

 France, New Zealand, America, Hungary, Holland, and certain German 

 provinces. 



Experiments on paddy cultivation during the years 1909-1911, L. C. Cole- 

 man and D. G. Rama Chandra (Dept. Agr. Mysore, Gen. Ser.' Bui. 2, 1912, pp. 

 IV+Jflf, pis. 2). — This reports mainly results of variety, fertilizer, and cul- 

 tural tests of rice. 



Seed which sank in a solution of one part of salt to two parts of water had 

 a higher germination percentage and greater weight per kernel, as well as a 

 higher density, than that which floated. 



Growth of sugar beet (Bedfordshire County Council, Agr. Ed. Com., Rpt. 

 Barley and Sugar Beet Plots, 1911; abs in Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 18 (1912), 

 No. 12, pp. 103Jt, 1035). — This is a report of experiments conducted to deter- 

 mine the feasibility of growing sugar beets in various districts, including the 

 results of variety, cultural, and fertilizer tests. The sugar percentage varied 

 little. 



Nitrogen fertilization and the composition of sugar beets, H. Sandor 

 (Kis&rlet Kozlem., U (1911), No. 5, pp. 655-675, figs. 2). — Increasing nitrogen 

 applications on pure sandy soil, low in humus, increased the beet yield, espe- 

 cially the yield of leaves. The lowest sugar content followed the lowest nitro- 

 gen applications. The proportion of dry matter was apparently not affected, 

 except in case of the nonsugar substances. Very heavy nitrogen fertilization 

 increased the injurious nitrogen disproportionately, but the increase was not 

 regular when potash and phosphorus were present in sufficient quantities. 



