FIELD CROPS. 245 



Notes on small cultures, A. V. Stubenrauch (California Sta. Rpt. 1895-1897, pp. 

 340-343). — Notes on experiments with tobacco, sugar beets, Australian saltbush, kale, 

 and sorghums. Thirty-five varieties of tobacco -were tested, and from results it is 

 concluded "that the plant will thrive and grow through the hot summers, and . . . 

 that of the long list of desirable varieties under cultivation some will . . . produce 

 tobacco of a marketable quality." 



Among the varieties of kale Dwarf German Greens made the best growth. ' ' Wind 

 or heat did not seem to affect it at all, nor did it receive any water during the 

 summer." 



Three varieties of sorghum, Safed Juar, Dewala, and Bsedra peela, planted May 5, 

 produced no seed during the season. 



Report on grasses and forage plants, E. J. Wickson (California Sta. Ept. 1895- 

 1897, pp. 271-292, pi. 1, figs. 4).— The early introduction of grasses and forage plants 

 into California is discussed and later introductions of grasses, legumes, and miscel- 

 laneous fodder plants are noted. Concise reports of cooperative culture tests and 

 descriptions of the following crops are given : Many-dowered millet grass ( Oryzopsis 

 miliaeea), Schrader brome grass (Bromus unioloides), Japanese wheat grass (Agropy- 

 ron japonicum), Texas blue grass (Poa arachnifera), tall oat grass (Arrhenatherum 

 elatius), Hungarian or awnless brome grass (Bromus inermis), snail clover (Medicago 

 turbinata), square pod pea (Lotus tetragonolobus), flat pea (Lathyrus sylvestris), taga- 

 saste (Cytisus proliferus alius), sachaline (Polygonum sachalinense), Nepaul barley, and 

 Jersey kale. 



Culture experiments with different varieties of saltbush on alkali soils are briefly 

 described. 



Notes on hay growing, C. H. Shinn (California Sta. Rpt. 1895-1897, pp. 324, 325).— 

 Short notes on the results of growing barley for hay during two seasons. The barley 

 was sown at different intervals from October to February in both years. The crops 

 were cut for hay in May and June. The effects of fertilizer applications are reported. 



Jamaica hay, B. S. C. Heaven (Jour. Jamaica Agr. Soc, 2 (1898), No. 7, pp. 278- 

 281). — A discussion on the preparation of hay from guinea grass. The food value of 

 this hay and timothy are compared. 



A few observations on Paspalum dilatatum, H. M. Williams ( Agr. Gaz. New 

 South Wales, 9 (1898), pt. 5. pp. 507-509). — The grass is highly recommended for per- 

 manent pasture and is considered one of the best for general purposes. "It lias 

 proved itself a mainstay for . . . stock, growing vigorously when the fierce heat 

 had withered up the other grasses." 



The cultivated vetches, J. G. Smith ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Division of Agrostology Circ. 6, 

 pp. 8, figs. 6).— A revised edition (E. S. R., 10, p. 43), in which notes on Dakota vetch 

 (Lotus americanus) and bird vetch ( Vicia cracca) have been added. 



The application of commercial fertilizers to spring grains, Emmerlixg (Fiih- 

 ling's Landw. Ztg., 47 (1898), No. 8, pp. 310-312). — A discussion with special reference 

 to fertilizers furnishing phosphoric acid and their effect upon the soil and crop. 



Phosphoric acid and the cereals, O.Guffroy (Jour. Agr. Prat., 2 (1898), No. 28, 

 pp. 52-54, figs. 2). — Phosphoric acid was applied to wheat and barley at the rate of 

 500 kg. per hectare. Disregarding the yield, the author concluded from the results 

 that phosphoric acid as a fertilizer for cereals increases the diameter and length of 

 the stem and in general the rigidity of the plant, improves the development of the 

 head, and increases the specific gravity of the grain. 



The sorting of grain and the modern utensils for the purpose, vox KI'mker 

 (Fiihling's Landw. Ztg., 47 (1898), No. 8, pp. 307-310, figs. 2).— The importance of thespe- 

 cific gravity, size, and form of seeds of cereals is pointed out and methods of sorting 

 the grain described. 



The cultivation of potatoes in European Russia (Rpt. Min. Agr. and Govt. Estates, 

 Div. Rural Econ. and Agr. Stat. St. Petersburg, 1897, pp. VI+162+152; abs. in Selsk. 

 Khoz. i Lyesov., 186 (1897), Sept., p. 712).— The first part of this report contains general 

 information about potatoes ; the second part contains descriptions of the culture of 

 potatoes in different Governments. — 1\ fireman. 



