732 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. 



to 3.4 cm., in varieties of oats from 4.1 to 4.4 cm., and in varieties of barley 

 from 4.6 to 5 cm. 



The culture of cereals in Sfax, Tunis, Leloup (Les Cultures de Cerealcs de 

 Sfax en Tunisic [1007], pp. 10). — Notes extracted from a- series of letters 

 treating of cereal crops in Tunis and published in pamphlet form. The dif- 

 ferent subjects discussed are the conditions of soil and climate, soil preparation, 

 and the seeding and harvesting of wheat, oats, barley, and forage crops. 



The ripening of grains during storage, A. Atterberg (Laruho. Vers. Stat., 

 61 {1901), No. 1-2, pp. 129-lJf3)}—^^i\v\iev observations l)y the author along 

 'this line indicated that immature grain, althougli low in moisture content and 

 kept in dry storage, will remain unchanged during the winter but will ripen 

 with the rise of temperature in tlie spring. The water content may fall below 

 10 per cent without ripening the grain, but with this degree of dryness it ripens 

 faster than when mois*t. A high temperature accelerates the ripening process. 

 Grain dried at a high room temperature required usually from 1 to 2 weeks 

 to attain its full germiuative power, but it was found that incompletely ma- 

 tured gi'ain may require from 1 to 2 months. 



It was often found that in the beginning of the dry pi'ocess the germiuative 

 power declined, and that in tests with immature barley drying at 37° C. 

 gave the best results in tlie improvement of its germiuative capacity. Barley 

 with a germination of OS per cent soaked in water and then dried at GO and 

 70° C. had its percentage of germination much reduced, and a drying tempera- 

 ture of even 50 or 48° proved injurious. 



Germination tests by diffei-ent methods show that immature grain germinates 

 much better at 7 and 10° C. than at higher tempei-atures, and in general that 

 seed grain germinates better at a low than at a high temperature. A number 

 of tests sliowed that a difference of only 3° may be sufHcient to determine a 

 good or a poor germinati(jn. 'For practical purposes it is recommended that 

 germination tests be made at 13 to 15° C. rather than at 20°. Some seed ger- 

 minates best at a temperature as low as 10° C, but more time is required tlian 

 when the temi)erature is higher. Seed too immature to sprout may be ripened 

 by drying at 40° for to 8 days and will then germinate satisfactorily even at 

 20° C. 



The systematic classification and nomenclature of grain varieties for 

 practical purposes, von KOmker (FiHiUiif/'s Laiidir. Ztff., bd {1907), No. 16, 

 pp. ')'i.')-')i>()). — The advantages of systematically classifying and naming the 

 grain varieties are pointed out in this article, and outlines of classifications 

 and descriptions for the different cereal crops are given. 



Meadow culture in its agricultural and technical aspects, F. W. DOnkel- 

 BERG {Der WiescnhUH in scincii hindairthfivliaftliclicn und tccJinischcii (Irund- 

 ziigen. Braunschweig, 1907, pp. XXI+37.i, pis. J/, figs. i65).— Part 1 of this book 

 deals with meadow culture in general, discussing the different grasses, various 

 kinds of soils, and the treatment of meadows, special attention being given to 

 irrigated grass lands. Part 2 is devoted to the technical side of the question 

 and discusses such points as the location, slope, grading, drainage, and irriga- 

 tion of meadows. The method of draining meadows by means of open ditches 

 and tile drains is outlined and subirrigation is discussed. Directions are also 

 given for the use of the transit and its application in land improvement work. 



Hesselvig irrigation farm, T. C. Westh et al. (Viborg, Denmark, 1907, pp. 

 2Ji). — A description of the development of this farm from largely unproductive 

 heather to valuable irrigated meadows. These meadows are treated with com- 

 post, together with 50 to 100 lbs. of 37 per cent i)otash salt and 100 to 150 lbs, 

 of Thomas «lag per tuudelaud (1.30 acres). 



