FIELD CROPS. 1137 



be broken about 4 iu. deep in inidsunumT without burning over, cultivated 

 with the dislv harrow, and that the seed be sown 2 in. deep tlie followinj; spring 

 without a nurse croi), covered with a heavy roller followed by a light spike- 

 tooth harrow. The crop is greatly benefited by light top-dressings of barnyard 

 manure or super])hosphates. Marl and land plaster uit to 2(Mi lbs. per acre are 

 also beneficial. 



Seed corn for the season of 1908, C. (i. \Villiams {Ohio .S7«/. Circ. 7.},° pp. 

 6"). — This circular outlines a method of making germination tests of corn, and 

 calls attention to other points in the spring selection of seed corn. A blank 

 for making the report of the germination test is included. 



Cooperative corn work for 1908, C. (J. Williams and L. H. Goddard (OJiio 

 St<i. Circ. 76. pp. .'/). — The plans for cooperative corn work for the season of ItiOS 

 are briefly outlined, and attention is called to the different points to be con- 

 sidered. 



[Experiments with cotton], R. Ward (Separate from Off. Gas. [British 

 Guiana], 1901, Jan. 16, pp. 4)- — The work here reported was carried on in 

 Demerara. The results obtained led to the conclusion that introduced Sea 

 Island, Egyptian, and Upland cotton are failures on stiff clay soil on the coast 

 lands. The growing of the vigorous perennial native kinds — Buck, Sea Island. 

 Brazilian, and Black Peruvian — was found unprofitable. These varieties do not 

 produce a ci'op until 18 months after planting and only once a year afterwards, 

 and the fiber does not connuand high prices 



It is believed that the hope of the cotton industry lies in artificial hybridiza- 

 tion and seed selection from the very best varieties grown. For the purpose 

 of hybridization introduced Sea Island, Buck, Black Peruvian, and Caravonica 

 are recommended for cultivation. 



The wild and cultivated cotton plants of the world, (i. Watt (Xrw York 

 and London, 1907, pp. .'i06, plf^. 53). — This book contains a revision of the genus 

 Gossy[)iuin, intended to aid planters and investigators interested in the sys- 

 tematic improvement of the cotton staple. A chapter eich is devoted to the 

 history of cotton and the cotton industry, the cotton fiber, the species, varieties, 

 and races of cotton, and the improvement of the cotton plant. An appendix 

 gives an enumeration of specimens examined, a list of works consulted, and 

 synonyms of species and varieties. 



Shrinkage of hay in the stack, F. W. Wilson (Arizona Sta. Npt. 1907. pp. 

 22.'i, J.i.j). — In 1906, 25,530 lbs. of new-mown hay cut on 5 different dates from 

 April If) to November remained in the stack until February 11, 1007. when 

 the loss due to shrinkage amounted to 2,S25 lbs., or 11 per cent. The following 

 season the third crop of hay, amounting to 23 tons, 1,706 lbs., was stacked 

 aI)out July 20. By December 14 a shrinkage of 5 tons, 971 lbs., or 23 per cent, 

 had taken place. 



Milo as a dry-land grain crop, C. U. Ball and A. H. Leidigii ( U. S. Dcpt. 

 Ayr., Fanners' Bui. 322, pp. 23. pgx. 9). — This bulletin descril)es milo, states 

 where the crop should be grown, gives complete directions for growing it, and 

 considers its different uses. "Milo" is recommended as a short and suitable 

 name in place of " milo maize," the latter term often causing it to be confused 

 with corn. 



It is pointetl out that milo is widely grown in western Texas, is well suited 

 to the Plains region below 4,.500 ft. elevation, and that it can probably be 

 l)rofitably grown as far north as South Dakota and westwai'd in Colorado, New 

 ^lexico, and the Great Basin region. The soil requirements are much the same 



" The circular on Cooperative Forestry Work for 1908, previously noted as 

 Circular 74 (E. S. R., 19, p. 654) has been relisted by the station as Circular 75. 



