440 EXPERIMENT STATION BECOBD. [VoL 36 



normal oats. When sown alone and the rate of seeding increased in proportion 

 to the lower germination, as compared with oats in normal condition, hulled 

 oats gave a full yield. Careful hulling by hand did not reduce the seed value, 

 but clipping the oats seemed to be an additional factor in reducing the per- 

 centage of germination of the hulled portion of the grain. 



Oats from a poorly developed crop and injured in thrashing to the extent of 

 having the hull removed wholly or in part produced in a mixture with normal 

 seed grain only 19 per cent of the yield of the normal seed, A well-developed 

 crop of oats grown on clay soil contained about four times as many hulled 

 kernels as a crop of lower quality produced on sandy soil, other conditions 

 being equal. Running the thresher at a moderate speed appreciably reduced 

 the quantity of hulled kernels in the grain. Elxamination of the seed samples 

 showed in most cases not over 2 per cent of hulled kernels, and it is thought 

 that as a rule not more than this proportion will be found when the oats have 

 been thrashed with a good machine properly adjusted and operated. 



Potato experimental fields, 1915-16, J. T. Ramsay {Jour. Dept. Agr. Vic- 

 toria, H {1916), No. 2, pp. 107-115, figs. 5). — This article gives detailed plans 

 of potato experiments being conducted in Victoria. Diagrams are submitted 

 showing the arrangement and treatment of the various plats. 



Sweet potato curing in Texas, E. W. Cole {Texas Dept. Agr. Bid. 49 [1916], 

 pp. 25, figs. 10). — This is a popular publication on the production and curing of 

 sweet potatoes in Texas. Detailed information is given for the propagation, 

 cultivation, and harvesting of the crop. Two methods of storing the product are 

 discussed — (1) the old-fashioned pit or hill method, and (2) the specially de- 

 signed storage house. The construction of the latter is described in some 

 detail, and the cost of curing sweet iwtatoes by this method is estimated at 68.1 

 cts. per bushel. 



B>elationship between the average whe^t yield and the winter rainfall, 

 A. E. V. Richardson {Jour. Dept. Agr. Victoria, 14 {1916), No. 1, pp. S7-40, 

 fig. 1). — This article is based on observations of the relationship between the 

 average yields of wheat and the composite average rainfall over the wheat 

 belt from May to October for the past 25 years. Ten centers, representative 

 of the wheat districts, were chosen In which observations were made. The 

 past 24 seasons were divided into two 12-yeai* periods, each having approxi- 

 mately the same composite average rainfall, namely, 9.5 in. for the first period 

 and 9.8 in. for the second period. The results obtained are Illustrated by means 

 of a graph and are discussed in some detail. 



In a comparison of the yields with the rainfall it is shown that for every inch 

 of winter rainfall 0.77 bu. of wheat was secured per acre in the first period and 

 1.12 bu. per acre in the second period. This indicates a gain of 46 per cent 

 brought about by improved methods of cultivation. The effect of abnormal 

 seasons on wheat production is discussed. It is pointed out that the wheat crop 

 of Victoria may be estimated in November from a knowledge of the winter 

 rainfall in the typical wheat districts. 



Experiments with the manuring of wheat, F. Coleman {Jour. Dept. Agr. 

 So. Aust., 19 {1916), No. 8, pp. 716-718).— This is a report of experiments con- 

 ducted for the past eleven years on the manuring of wheat. Increased yields 

 and values of manured plats over unmanured plats for the 11-year period are 

 given in tabular form. 



Kesearches on wheat selection, — I, Does the value of a wheat grain depend 

 on its position in the ear? A. E. V. Richabdson and W. H. Green {Jour. 

 Dept. Agr. Victoria, 14 {1916), No. 3, pp. I4O-146. figs. >J).— This article reports 

 experiments with wheat conducted at the Rutherglen Experiment Station, Vic- 

 toria. In order to eliminate environmental Influences as far as possible, a 



