230 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECORD. [Vol. 36 



of a series of fertilizer experiments reported led to the conclusion that the use 

 of reasonable amounts of double or single superphosphates is profitable on the 

 soil in question. The crop did not appear to show any sign of preferring one 

 form of fertilizer to another as a means of supplying the same element of plant 

 food. Heavy applications of commercial nitrogenous fertilizers did not prove 

 profitable. Applications of from 500 to 1.500 kg. per hectare (445 to 1,335 lbs. 

 per acre) of lime broadcasted are considered safe and remunerative. Complete 

 fertilizers greatly hastened the increase of height in the plants, while nitrogen 

 alone had an invigorating effect on the development of large, deep-green leaves 

 and heavy stalks. The use of potash seemed to affect the development of all 

 parts of the plant. 



Maize grading, 1915, J. A. T. Walteks (Rhodesia Agr. Jour., IS (1916), 

 No. 1, pp. 4^-51). — ^The grading of maize for export in 1915 in Rhodesia is 

 briefly reported, together with a description of the grades and the chief causes 

 of rejection. A table shows that for a part of the year the exports consisted of 

 44.1 per cent of first grade and 48.7 per cent of second grade maize, while 7.2 

 per cent of the quantity offered was rejected. 



Cotton breeding report for 1914, B. G. C. Bolland (Agr. Jour. Egypt, 5 

 (1915), No. 1-2, pp. 19-30, pJs. 2). — This is a report of progress in the breeding 

 of four varieties of cotton, presenting detailed descriptions of the characters of 

 each variety together with tabulated statistical data based on measurements 

 and other determinations. 



Cotton production in the United States: Crop of 1915 (Bur. of the Census 

 [U. S.], Cotton P7'od. U. S., 1915, pp. 28). — Statistics are presented in tables as 

 to the cotton ginned from the crop of 1915 for the United States, the several 

 States, and individual counties. The cotton production for the year, as re- 

 ported, was 11,191,820 500-lb. bales with 880,780 500-lb. bales of linters in addi- 

 tion. The production of Sea Island cotton is given as 91,844 running bales. 



A study of cowpea culture with, special reference to selection in the New 

 Era variety, A. Constantino y San Juan (Philippine Agr. and Forester, 4 

 (1916), No. 9-10, pp. 185-194). — A selection experiment with New Era cowpeas 

 is described and the results are discussed. Of 1,000 plants studied, 13 indicated 

 exceptional forage and 16 exceptional grain production. As compared with 

 unselected stock the selected plants produced a gain of 251,244 kg. of seed and 

 1,651,483 kg. of vegetable matter per hectare (224 and 1,470 lbs. per acre). 



The New Era is reported as the one variety having proved successful on the 

 college farm and in its vicinity at Los Banos. A test of planting cowpeas on 

 different dates showed that the best returns were secured from plantings made 

 from August to December. 



Flax for fiber. — Its cultivation and handling, J. Adams (Canada Expt. 

 Farms Bui. 28, 2. ser. (1916), pp. 23, figs. 15). — A general discussion is pre- 

 sented on the cultivation of flax for fiber and its preparation for the market 

 under Canadian conditions. Some of the results secured in experimental 

 work relating to flax culture at the Canada Experimental Farms are quoted. 



Napier fodder or elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), J. A. T. Walters 

 (Rhodesia Agr. Jour., 13 (1916), No. 1, pp. 87-91, pis. 4.). — A description is 

 given of this grass and its composition is compared with that of green maize. 

 When the crop was cut March 1, 3 ft. of green growth had been made by the 

 first week of July as compared with 2.25 ft. when cut April 1 and 6 in. when 

 cut May 1. Two roots of the grass planted April 17, 1914, were divided into 

 224 individual plants on December 7. Rooted cuttings planted on a dry ridge 

 made a good growth, although the rainfall in the first season subsequent to 

 planting Avas less than 12 in. 



