226 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOKD, 



Analyses of fertilizers — spring season, 1909, B'. W. Kilgore et al. (Bui. 

 N. 0. Dept. Agr., 30 {1909), No. //, pp. 5o). — The results of inspection of fer- 

 tilizers during the spring of 1909 are given in this bulletin. 



Commercial fertilizers, J. L. Hills, C. II. Jones, and H. L. Miner ( Vermont 

 Sta. Bui. If/O, pp. 39-69). — This bulletin is the first report on inspection of fer- 

 tilizers during the season of 1909 and contains analyses and valuations of 56 

 brands. 



The bulletins of the fertilizer control, J. L. Hills {Vermont /S7a. Cire. 1, 

 pp^ ^).. — This circular gives an outline of special articles which have been 

 made a feature of the fertilizer bulletins of the station since 1902. 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



Catalogue of the grasses of Cuba, A. S. Hitchcock {U. S. Nat. Mus., 

 Contrib. Nat. Herbarium, 12, pt. 6, pp. Xl + 183-258). — This is the result of a 

 critical study of Cuban grasses, based primarily upon the collections at the 

 Cuban Experiment Station, and supplemented by the collections of the National 

 Herbarium. Gray Herbarium, specimens in the Herbarium of the New York 

 Botanical Garden, etc. 



The power of growth exhibited by ostrich ferns, G. E. Stone (Bui. Torrey 

 Bot. Vhih. 36 {1909). So. '/. /*/). 221-225. fig. /). — An account is given of the 

 author's observations on a number of ostrich ferns growing about his house, 

 some of which have pushed their rhizomes under a concrete walk 21 to 3 in. 

 thick, which has been ruptured almost annually by the appearance of the young 

 fronds. 



Some experiments were carried on to determine the force required for break- 

 ing the layer of cement, and the author finds that it equals 361 gm. to each 

 square niillinieter of cross-section surface of the frond, or about 35 atmospheres, 

 a force considerably in excess of any hitherto reported showing the power of 

 the growth of plants. 



The water-storing tubers of plants, J. W. Harshberger (Bui. Torrey Bot. 

 Club. 35 {190S), pp. 271-276, pi. 1). — A report is given of studies of the tubers 

 occurring on Nephrolepsis cordifoUa and related species and the decorative 

 asparagus (Asparagus sprengeri). As a result of the author's investigations he 

 has determined that the principal function of these tubers is for water storage. 



The relation of fertility to the nourishment and morphology of plants, 

 M. Wagner (Landw. Vrr.s. ,S7«^, 69 (1908), Nos. 3-J,, pp. 161-2.33) .—This investi- 

 gation was conducted to determine the influence of different fertilizers and 

 different times of application on the proportion of plant substance produced 

 above and below ground during different stages of growth. Pot experiments 

 were made with oats, barley, buckwheat, and mustard in 1904 and 1905. The 

 composition of the soil used is given. The fertilizers consisted of combinations 

 of phosphoric acid, potash, and nitrogen. 



In 1905 the same plants were grown in pots but seeded earlier to secure 

 complete ripening. A normal application of 1 gm. phosphoric acid, 1.5 gm. 

 potash, and 1.5 gm. nitrogen was added to some of the pots, while in others 

 double these quantities w-ere used. The phosphoric acid was ai)plied at the 

 time of seeding. The potash wag applied in the form of potassium silicate 

 at the time of seeding and potassium sulphate and a 40 per cent potassium salt 

 on April 22 for the oats, barley, and mustard, and on May 20 for the buckwheat. 

 The ammonium nitrate was given one-half at the time of seeding and the 

 remainder on April 22, with the exception of the buckwheat, upon which it 

 was applied May 20. The different plants were harvested upon maturity, and 

 the potash, phosphoric acid, and nitrogen content determiueci, 



