FIELD CROPS. 487 



Comparing- the best plants of this variety with those less productive, 

 the author says : 



" We likewise tiud a favorable coiulitiou of development of tlie plant in those parts 

 whirb have the hiy;hest infliience on the uourishment aud development of the ker- 

 nels; the kernels increase in number and individual weight, the cob enlarges in order 

 to bear the kernels, the butt and husks increase, the ear-bearing nodes enlarge to be 

 able to bear the ear, the lower nodes thicken and gain thereby in power of resistance 

 and support, the leaf sheaths on the ear-bearing nodes are shortened to make room 

 for the outward pressure of the ear; in short a change takes place in the proportion 

 of straw and grain in favor of the latter. 



"If we breed plants in which these distinguishing traits are well developed aud 

 which transmit the same to their descendants, which is to be expected from a rational 

 selection, we may in this way improve the yield of grain, aud c:in even increase the 

 total yield." 



Cotton, S. M. Tracy (Mississippi Sta. Bpt. 1895, pp. 6-25). — This is 

 essentially a reprint of the data in the Annual Ileport of the station for 

 1893 (E. S. K., (J, p. 798), with some additional matter. 



In 1894 the estimated increase from applications of 3.") bu. of cotton 

 seed and 250 lbs. of kainit per acre was 445 lbs. of seed cotton, and from 

 double the amount of fertilizer it was G53 lbs. The increase in 1895 

 from like applications was 310 aud 039 lbs. per acre, respectively. The 

 average yield from drill application of fertilizers has been oS lbs. per 

 acre more than from broadcast application. 



At Lake, in 1894 and 1895, 70 bu. of cotton seed and 400 lbs. of acid 

 phosphate per acre gave most profitable yields. At Holly Springs, in 

 1894, of 20 plats planted, 15 were manured with 250 lbs. each of kainit, 

 acid phosphate, and cotton-seed meal, alone and in combinations of 2 

 and 3. The largest and most profitable crops were produced where 

 both acid phosphate aud cotton-seed meal were applied. 



All applications of fertilizers to black prairie soil have been uniformly 

 unsatisfactory. The author thinks this may be due in i)art to a too 

 compact subsoil, which may be remedied by growing leguminous crops 

 with strong taproots. 



Experiments with oats, J. 1\ Hickman {Ohio Sta. Bid. 67, pp. 18). — 

 These experiments are mainly in continuation of work published in 

 Bulletin 57 of the station (E. S. E., 7, p. 27). They include variety 

 tests, methods of seeding, aud i)reparation of the seed bed. 



Variety test (pp. 1-14).— Seventy varieties were tested at the station, 

 of which 29 were also tried at the substation. Tabulated data are 

 given of yields of grain and straw for 3 years, and percentage of smut, 

 of yield of grain for 5 years, and of weight per bushel. 



The author states that the average per cent of smutted heads in 49 

 varieties of white oats was 13.69 and in 14 varieties of black oats 17.43. 

 The highest average yield (over 50 bu. per acre) was de(;idedly in favor 

 of the Seizure group, with a one sided panicle. The Welcome group is 

 the only one whose average equalled the standard weight. 

 11068— ]S^o. (i 4 



