1034 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



These results show that no variety is better adapted for all parts of the State 

 than the well-known varieties. Attention is called to the fact that every cotton 

 field contains individual plants having desirable characteristics and that these 

 should be selected to increase productiveness. The characteristics to be sought 

 after in selecting cotton are given as follows : Productiveness, quality of lint, 

 length of fiber, earliness, and storm resistance. 



Cowpeas, H. T. Nielsen (U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 318, pp. 31, figs. 

 <S'). — This bulletin discusses the culture of cowpeas for hay, for pasture, for 

 .seed, and for soil improvement. The practice of growing the crop with sorghum, 

 corn, Johnson grass, millet, and soy beans is described, the value of eowpea 

 hay, seed, and straw is pointed out, and particular attention is given to the 

 manner of harvesting the seed by machinery. Brief notes are given on 9 of 

 the most important varieties. The results of several experiments with cowpeas 

 conducted at the exjieriment stations are briefly reviewed in the text. 



Oats, M. L. Bowman and L. C. Burnett {loiva Sta. Bui. 96, pp. 23). — Statis- 

 tics on oat production in Iowa are given and tlie results of experiments with 

 reference to variety, seed preparation, and seeding are reported. 



In 390G, which was a favorable oat season, the percentage of hull in 15 

 varieties of oats ranged from 25 to 36, while in 1907, an unfavorable season, the 

 range for these same varieties was from 34 to 50 per cent. 



Of the different varieties grown at the station since 1898, only G have been 

 continued through the last 5 years and of these only one, Silvermjne, is con- 

 sidered as a leading variety of the State. The average yield of these varieties 

 for the years 1898 to 1902 was as follows : Early Champion 51.6 bu., Siberian 

 49.7 bu.. Green Mountain 49.6 bu., Joanette 49 bu., Silvermine 4G.8 bu., and 

 White Russian 40 bu. per acre. Later experiments have shown that Kherson 

 and Silvermine may be considered of equal value from the standpoint of yield. 

 Kherson ripens in from 90 to 95 days; that is, from 5 to 10 days earlier than 

 Silvermine. The average yield of all varieties at the station for the years 1905 

 to 1907, inclusive, was 47.7 bu. This included 20 varieties ranging from 62.5 

 to 26.2 bu. per acre. The results of each year's variety test are given in tables. 



A farmers' cooperative experiment was conducted to determine the value of 

 the treatment of oats for smut with formalin. The average of 80 fields shows 

 that the treated fields had an average of 0.5 per cent of smut, while the untreated 

 ones had an average of 5.9 per cent. 



An inquiry made among farmers with reference to the preparation of the 

 seed bed for oats showed that practically all sow oats on cornstalk ground and 

 that 71 per cent sow on unprepared stalk ground. Nearly all harrow in the 

 oats after seeding, while 70 per cent disk the ground after sowing. Experiments 

 at the station resulteil in most cases in the heaviest yields from the use of 12 

 pk. of seed i)er acre sown with a disk drill. The average yield in 1907 of Kher- 

 son and Silvermine, wheu the seed was sown with the disk drill, was 44.9 bu. 

 per acre, as compared with 35.3 bu. when sown broadcast. The weight iter 

 bushel was also in favor of drilling. 



Attention is called to the fact that Iowa raises an average of 29.5 bu. of oats 

 per acre, and that by the use of better varieties, better quality of seed, treat- 

 ment for smut, better preparation of the seed bed and drilling, this average 

 could be substantially increased. 



Besults from stripping experiments, C. F. Eckart (Hawaiian ^Siigar Pi a lit- 

 ers' 8ta., Div. Agr. and Chein. Bui. 25, pp. 13, figs. 2, dgins. 2). — A comparison 

 in the yields of stripped and unstripped canes was made and the results are 

 briefly reiiorted. The average yield of stripped cane was 68.01 tons and of un- 

 stripped cane 87 tons per acre, and the available sugar from the stripped cane 

 8.99 tons and of the unstripped cane 12,21 tons per acre. In both plant cane and 



