FIELD CROPS. 539 



altbouf:!! costiiij; more than the otlier formulas, made the poorest yield. It was 

 also foimd that it is apparently more protital)le to apply all the fertilizer before 

 planting the crop, with the possible exception of nitrate of soda or some other 

 readily available substance. 



King cotton, J. L. Watkins (Xcw York, 1908, pp. 321, pis. 13). — This book 

 is a historical and statistical review of the cotton industry of the United States 

 from 1790 to 1908. The first chapter of the book treats of the earliest intro- 

 duction of cotton culture, the difficulty of separating the lint from the seed, 

 • and the invention of the gin. Subsequent chapters are devoted successively 

 to conditions in the several cotton-producing States. 



The production of cotton in Egypt, F. C. Roux (La I'ro(li(ctio)i dii Cotton 

 en Egiipir. Paris, 1908, pp. VIII+/,10). — This book devotes several chapters 

 each to the history, culture, industry, and commerce of cotton in Egypt. A 

 bibliography of several pages is given, and special articles on the causes of yield 

 retiuction in Egypt and the process of mercerizing are presented. There is also 

 a list of the cotton gins in Egypt. 



Hop culture on moor soils, W. Bersch (Ztschr. Moorkultur u. Torfvcrwert., 

 7 (.1909), No. 3, pp. 109-11,0, pi. i).— This article discusses in detail the culture 

 of hops on moor soils and describes the progress that culture has made in 

 certain hop-growing regions. Together \\\W\ this information the chemical 

 analyses of different parts of the plant and the results of fertilizer experiments 

 are reported. 



It was found that on the moor soils near Ibm, Austria, the most profitable 

 fertilizers were Thomas slag, raw phosphate, 40 per cent iwtash salt, and 

 nitrate of soda. Bone meal, superphosphate, and barnyard manure gave unsat- 

 isfactory results. It is recommended that Thomas slag be applied at the rate 

 of SO kg. of phosphoric acid per hectare (about 71.2 lbs. per acre) in the first 

 year and at the rate of about 60 kg. in the second and following seasons. The 

 use of about 100 kg. of potash and of 40 kg. of nitrogen in the form of nitrate 

 of soda per hectare is suggested. IJming the soil is not favorably regarded. 



Japan clover, or Lespedeza, F. G. Buford (Bieri. Rpt. Tenn. Dcpt. Agr., 

 1907-8, pp. l.'il-153). — An article is presented giving the history of Lespedeza 

 and discussing its culture, values, and uses. 



Jute in Bengal, N. C, Chaudhury (Calcutta, 1908, pp. XII+195). — This 

 book discusses the history of the jute industry, the different races of the plant 

 grown, the cultivation of the crop in detail, and the trade in the raw material 

 and the manufactured products. Selected official papers on jute culture are 

 reviewed, and miscellaneous topics bearing on jute culture are briefly noted. 



Methods of seeding oats; drilling and broadcasting, A. N. Hume, O. D. 

 Cknter. and L. Hkgnauer (lUhiois Sia. Bui. 136, pp. 299-312, fig. 1). — The 

 results of 3 years' trials at Urbana showed a net gain of 5.3 bu. of oats per acre 

 from drilled over broadcast seeding. The general average of 2 years' trials at 

 Sibley showed, regardless of the kind of preparation of the seed bed before 

 sowing, a corresponding net gain of 3.6 bu. per acre, and 3 years' trials at 

 Do Kalb showed a general average yield in favor of drilling. The better results 

 secured with the drill are considered due to i-egularity of stand, evenness of 

 growth, and uniformity of rii)ening. It was further observed that clover seeded 

 with oats in drills is less likely to be killed shortly after harvest than closer 

 seeded with oats sown broadcast. 



The time of cutting seed potatoes in its relation to yield, J. Osterspen 

 (Mitt. Dcut. Landiv. Gescll., 2J, (1909), No. 18, pp. 283-286).— The development 

 of the yielding cailacity of sets from large tubers cut lengthwise was practically 

 the same as those of cuttings made in the same way from medium size tubers. 



10377— No. 6—09 4 



