634 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 36 



mose, peptones, amino acids, organic bases, ammonia, and a toxin, probably a 

 nitrogenous glucosid. Otlier changes were noted in pentosans, sugars, cellu- 

 lose, and fat. 



FIELD CROPS. 



Yields of spring' grains in Illinois, W. L. Buklison and O. M. Allyn (Illi- 

 nois Sta. Bui. 195 (1917), pp. 499-508). — This bulletin reports variety tests with 

 spring oats, spring wheat, spring barley, spring rye, and spring emmer con- 

 ducted in the northern, central, and southern sections of Illinois. Data are 

 presented in tabular form and discussed, and the leading oat varieties for each 

 section noted. The tests with the other spring grains in northern Illinois have 

 been too limited to draw definite conclusions. In central Illinois spring barley 

 has given good results, but spring wheat is not deemed liliely to become impor- 

 tant unless the fall-sown wheat crop winterkills. The small spring grains 

 (with the exception of early oat varieties) are not found well adapted to 

 southern Illinois conditions. 



Northern grown seed oats were not found to be sufficiently superior to home 

 grown oats to justify their extra expense. 



Characteristics of 31 oat varieties tested at DeKalb, Urbana, and Fairfield 

 are given in tabular form as to maturity, color of kernel, foliage, form of 

 head, and height. 



Grain drying, Bernstein {Illus. Landtv. Ztg., 36 (1916), Nos. 5, pp. 27-29, 

 figs. 6; 6, pp. 34, 35, figs. 2). — This article describes in detail several pieces of 

 apparatus devised for the purpose of drying grain on a commercial scale. 

 The construction of the various pieces is discussed and illustrated, and the 

 cost of each piece estimated. 



Grading and baling Philippine fi.bers, H. T. Edwards (Philippine Agr. Rev. 

 [English Ed.], 9 (1916), No. 1, pp. 5-12, figs. 2). — Tlie text is given of General 

 Order No. 47, issued by the Government of the Philippine Islands, regulating 

 the grading and handling of fiber crops in the Philippines. The regulations 

 cover three main subjects, (1) designation of the official standard grades for 

 each fiber. (2) determination of the standard grades and types thereof, and 

 (3) additional regulations regarding baling, labeling, and inspection. 



One year of the fiber-grading law, M. M. Saleeby (Philippine Agr. Rev. 

 [English Ed.], 9 (1916), No. 1, pp. 13-20, pis. 2).— This article discusses the 

 operation of the fiber-grading law noted above. 



It is pointed out that by the establishment of standard grades the Govern- 

 ment has greatly facilitated the buying and selling of fiber. The educational 

 work among the producers, instructing them in the proper methods of cleaning 

 and handling the fiber, has aided materially in some districts. The distribu- 

 tion of literature pertaining to fiber grading among the commercial houses 

 and the sending out of samples of the standard grades has also proved of 

 gi'eat value. 



Description of the standard grades of Philippine fibers, M. M. Saleeby 

 (Philippine Agr. Rev. [English Ed.], 9 (1916), No. 1, pp. 21-30) .—This is a 

 technical description of the standard grades of Philippine fibers as recognized 

 by law. 



The standard grades of abaca (Manila hemp) have been classified into four 

 groups, according to the extent of the cleaning, as follows: (1) Those of 

 excellent cleaning, grades streaky No. 3, streaky No. 2, streaky No. 1, midway, 

 good current, superior current, and prime and extra prime; (2) those of good 

 cleaning, grades brown, seconds, and current; (3) those of fair cleaning, grades 

 medium, fair, and good fair; and (4) those of coarse cleaning, gi*ades coarse 

 brown, coarse, and daet. The standard grades of maguey and sisal are grouped 



