FTEI.T) CEOPS. 81 



Tlu' weekly weislils of llic cdni iindcr Icsl are talmlateil to sliow tn what 

 extent the crib weislits wei'e inliuenced liy the aiuount of moisture in liie alinos- 

 pliere, the weather eonditions at or near the time of wei.ithin.^ heiii^ noted. 

 The results secured at other experiment stations in this san)e line of woriv are 

 briefly reviewed. 



Cotton, A. Laliere {Lc Cotoii. I'aris: A. Chalhimrl. liioii. j)/). .>.',(>. pis. .iJ/, 

 fitia. J.'). (1(jin><. ,?. ma I) J). — This book is divided into sections treating of the 

 importance of raw cotton in the cotton industry, the culture of cotton, its prep- 

 aration for connnerce such as ginning and baling, the characters of the plant. 

 the uses made of the fiber, seed, and other products, the principal cotton-growing 

 countries, and the recent extension of cotton culture in various European 

 dependencies. A list of w(u-ks consulted by the author in the i)reparation of 

 the book is given. 



Experiments in the late planting of cotton to avoid boll weevil damage 

 during 1906, C. W. Flynn (Louisiana Stan. Bui. .92, pp. 8). — Experiments were 

 conducted to determine whether general late planting in regions infested by the 

 boll weevil could reduce the damage done by that insect. 



One experiment was i-onducted in Yernon Parish, a field of 2i acres sur- 

 rounded by forest and about 2.5 miles from any other cotton field, being planted 

 on June (>. On .June 14, when the cotton was up to a stand, no boll weevils were 

 observed, but on July 21, when the field had just commenced to squai-e. 10.4 

 lier cent of the squares were found infested, and on August 15, (i.3.0 per cent. 

 An inspection of some of the nearest fields on July 21 showed that from 20.4 

 to 78 ])er cent of the squares were infested with the l)oll weevil, and a later 

 inspection showed 92.5 to 99.2 per cent of the bolls infested. The experiment 

 field, which in previous, seasons produced about 1,200 lbs. of seed cotton per 

 acre without fertilizer and in spite of the weevil, this year with late planting 

 produced only 260 lbs., although well fertilized and well cultivated. 



A second experiment at Merryville gave similar results, and the conclusion is 

 drawn that late ])lanting will not serve to solve the boll weevil problem. 



Preliminary report on distance experiments with potatoes, M. Stefansson 

 ( .Vo/Y/c.s- Laiiflhr. HoishoJcs Akervck-st. Aursbei:, IBOo-G, [jp. 55-60). — Experi- 

 ments were conducted with 8.''> varieties of potatoes on 209 plats. The distance 

 between rows was 00 cm. and that betv^een the plants in the rows 20, ?>0, and 

 40 cm. The largest yields were in most cases secured by iilanting 20 cm. apart. 

 The greater distances are considered advantageous only when heavy yields may 

 be expected. — f. w. woll. 



The nonsaccharine sorghums, (". ^Y. Warburton (f. «S'. Dcpt. Agr., Farmers' 

 liiil. 2SS. jip. JS, figs. [)). — A classification of the sorghums is given, together 

 with historical notes on their introduction and culture in this country. The 

 characteristics of the different varieties are pointed out and complete directions 

 are given for the growing of .these crops as well as their utilization for fodder, 

 bay. pa.sture, silage, and soiling. 



The 3 distinct classes of sorghums .are the broom corns, the saccharine, and 

 the nonsaccharine sorghums. Tlu' last named may be divided into 2 groups. 

 Kafir corn and the duras. Kafir corn is stocky, leafy, with erect heads, while 

 the duras usually grow taller, are less leafy, and often have the heads goose- 

 necked. The nonsaccharine sorghums are of great value in semiarid sections. 

 They grow on any good soil, but do l)est on a sandy loam and are remarkably 

 resistant to drouth and alkali, although this resistance is not uniform for the 

 different varieties. The poor ])hysical condition in which thej' leave the soil 

 may be overcome by proper tillage. Yields per acre of 25 to 50 bu. of grain 

 and 2 to 5 tons of dry fodder is the usual crop. The grain and fodder ;ire 

 about equal in feeding value to corn, but are slightly less digestible. 



