1917] FIELD CROPS. 635 



as (1) retted fiber, grades maguey or sisal No. 3, maguey or sisal No. 2, and 

 maguey or sisal No. 1; and (2) knife or machine cleaned fiber, grades maguey 

 or sisal, common, fair, and good. 



Fiber-grading stations and grading establishments, M. M. Saxeeby {Philip- 

 pine Agr. Rev. [English Ed.], 9 (1916), No. 1, pp. 4^-47).— This is a list of the 

 regularly authorized fiber-grading stations in the Philippine Islands. 



Statistical report of fi.ber production in the Philippine Islands during the 

 year 1915, M. M. Saleeby {Philippine Agr. Rev. [English Ed.], 9 {1916), No. 1, 

 pp. 31-Jfl, pis. 3). — This is a detailed report of fiber production in the Philip- 

 pines for 1915, showing a grand total of 1,071,983 bales for the year. The pro- 

 duction in bales is also given for each province. 



The important legumes.— I, Peas, vetches, field beans, lupine, and lentil, 

 C. Fruwirth {Landw. Hefte, No. 29 {1916), pp. 42, figs. 9).— This publication 

 discusses in a popular manner the value of leguminous plants in agriculture. 

 Several specific crops are described and their value, both for human use and 

 for agricultural purposes, discussed. The follo\ving varieties are described in 

 detail, together with mention of common local varieties: (1) Peas {Pisum 

 sativum and P. arvense) ; (2) field beans {Vicia faba) ; (3) yellow lupine 

 {Lupinus luteus) and the narrow-leafed lupine {L. augustifoUus) ; (4) vetch 

 (F. sativa) ; and (5) lentil {Lens esculenta). 



A device for sorting peas is described and illustrated. 



A method for removing the bitter flavor of lupines is described and an appa- 

 ratus for that purpose illustrated. 



Why alfalfa sometimes fails in Iowa, O. F. Jensen {Iowa Agr., 17 {1916), 

 No. 2, pp. 57-60, fig. 1). — This article gives the results of an investigation of 

 1,300 reports from alfalfa growers in 75 counties of the State of Iowa. The 

 complete failures reported numbered 247, or one out of every six seedings. An 

 analysis of 197 of these failures indicated that the causes were as follows : Lack 

 of inoculation, or lack of lime, or both, 79 ; smothered by nurse crop, 27 ; 

 smothered by weeds, 22 ; winter killed, 18 ; poor preparation of seed bed, 16 ; 

 drilled or covered too deep, 12 ; poor soil, lack of fertility, 8 ; drought, 5 ; poor 

 drainage, 4 ; rains washed out, 4 ; and poor seed, 2. 



Flax culture in South Dakota, A. N. Hume, M. Champlin, and J. Maetin 

 {South Dakota Sta. Bui. 169 {1916), pp. Jt66-J,93, figs, ii).— This bulletin is a 

 general discussion of flax culture in an effort to revive interest in flax produc- 

 tion in South Dakota. Variety tests, date- and rate-of -seeding tests, and rota- 

 tion tests have been conducted at the Cottonwood, Eureka, and Highmore 

 substations of the South Dakota Station, and in cooperation with the U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture on the Belle Fourche Experiment Farm, Newell, 

 S. Dak. 



The flax commonly grown in South Dakota is of the small-seeded, blue- 

 flowered European type, although the pedigreed varieties North Dakota Re- 

 sistant No. 52 (S. D. 29) and Select Russian N. D. 1215 (S. D. 686) have 

 yielded best in variety tests at Highmore and Newell, respectively. It is recom- 

 mended that flax follow a pasture, meadow, or cultivated crop, and that the 

 rotation extend over a long period. Several tests of rotation systems are in 

 progress. Early seeding is recommended, April seedings of 2 pk. per acre 

 being deemed preferable to late light seedings. Flax responds to irrigation, 

 but overirrigation and too late irrigation must be avoided. General notes are 

 given on the harvesting, threshing, and disposal of the crop. 



Some varieties of Indian gram (Cicer arietiniim), A. and Gabbieixe L. C. 

 Howard and A. Rahman Khan {Mem. Dept. Agr. India, Bot. Ser., 7 {1915), 

 No. 6, pp. 211-235, pis. 3, figs. 2). — This bulletin is a description of the varieties 

 of gram {C. arietinum), the Indian cold-season food grain, together with a 



