i 



FIELD CROPS. 531 



istics of the forage and fiber froi)s growu in the United States and the re- 

 sults of experiments and experience as to their climatic and soil adaptation, cul- 

 tural methods, insect enemies, fungus diseases, harvesting, use, and market- 

 ing. Five chapters of the book are devoted to perennial forage grasses, 1 to 

 annual forage plants, 8 to leguminous forage plants, 1 to root crops, and 8 to 

 fiber crops. The machines and implements used in cultivating, harvesting, 

 and prei»aring some of the crops for market are described and illustrated. 



The world's commercial products, W. G. Freemax and S. E. Chandler (Loii- 

 ilon, liW7, pii. Vlll-rSin. pis. 12. jiy-s. .'/OS, inap.-i 10). — This book discusses in a 

 popular manner the cultivation, harvesting, preparation for the market and for 

 consumption, and the commerce of cereal, fruit, vegetable, fiber, drug. dye. 

 spice, and other crops as carried on in different parts of the world. The list of 

 subjects discussed in the work includes most of the common articles of com- 

 merce. 



Guide to experiments conducted at Burgoyne (University) farm, Imping'- 

 ton, and at other centers in the eastern counties. T. H. ;Midl)Leton (Cuni- 

 bridyv Uiiir.. Dvpt. Ai/r.. Uiiiilc to E-iitt.-t.. 1907. pp. 162. pix. .). (hjins. J). — The 

 results of the experimental work carried on by the agricultural department of 

 Cambridge Fuiversity are presented in tabular form. The figures given in- 

 clude the crops harvestefl in lOOG and the experiments made in feeding live stock 

 in the winter of 1906-7. The purpose of this publication is to present the rec- 

 ords of experimental work in convenient form. Discussions in greater detail of 

 the work are given in The Jounnil nf Af/ricultuntl Scirticr and in the farmers' 

 bulletins issued by the department. These nrticles have been uotetl from time to 

 time from these different sources. 



[Soil moisture determinations!, II. T. Nowell (Wi/oinhtySta. Rpt. 1907. 

 pp. 70-11 'i. p.(j. 1. charts 10). — This is a part of the report of the irrigation en- 

 gineer. 



Observations on rainfall, irrigation, and evaporation were made on a number 

 of plats gi-owing different crops and variously irrigated. Taking as a basis 

 the power of the plant to live and grow while the amount of moisture iu the 

 soil is at a minimum, it was found that in general alfalfa and oats subsisted 

 with the least amount of soil moisture of any of the crops grown at the station, 

 and these crops were followed by fall rye. field peas, spring rye. and Defiance 

 wheat in the order named. Potatoes planted very wide apart in the rows used 

 the smallest amount of soil moisture during their growth and field peas use<l 

 the most. Defiance wheat apparently used the least moisture after potatoes, 

 followed by alfalfa and oats, spring rye, and fall rye. 



Comparisons of soil culture in this connection showed that deep plowing was 

 beneficial, while subsoiling had no apparent eft"ect. Shallow cultivation pro- 

 duced better results in retaining soil moisture than deep cultivation. Plats of 

 grain planted in 8 in. rows retained more moisture than those planted in 16 

 in. rows, possibly because of the heavier stem in the 16 in. rows, the same 

 amount of grain being sown per acre iu the two cases. 



[Work with field crops], B. C. Bcffum (Wyoniing Sta. Rpt. 1907, pp. 3S-5S. 

 figs. Jf). — The work with barley, sweet clover, and flax is briefly reported, and 

 the results secured iu moisture investigations are given at some length in tables. 



Sweet clover proved to be the hardiest clover ever grown at the station and 

 was found to be adapted to all kinds of soil, even to those containing large quan- 

 tities of alkali and to dry uplands without irrigation. In 100.3. 2 plats produced 

 from 2 cuttings about 4.5 tons of hay per iicre, while on 2 other plats a yield of 

 3.75 tons per acre was secured. The first 2 plats had not been irrigated, while 

 the last 2 were irrigated for the second crop. An analysis made by the chemist 

 of the station showed a total of 22 per cent of protein in one sample of the hay. 



