FIELD cRors. 687 



bulletin discusses the plant in its agricultural bearings only, no attempt being made 

 to consider the problems of cotton luanniacture. It includes tlio following articles : 

 Introduction, by C. W. Dabney, jr. ; History and general statistics of cotton, by R. 

 B. Handy; Botany of cotton, by W. H. Evans; Chemistry of cotton, by J. B. 

 McBryde and W. H. Beal; Climatology and soils, by Milton Whitney; The manur- 

 ing of cotton, by H. C. White; Cultivated varieties of cotton, by 8. M. Tracy; Cul- 

 ture of cotton, by Harry Hammond; Experiments in cotton culture by the experi- 

 ment stations; Diseases of cotton, by G. F. Atkinson; The insects which affect tlie 

 cotton plant in the United States, by L. O. Howard; The handling and uses of cot- 

 ton, by Harry Hammond; Th<! feeding value of cotton-seed products, by B. W. 

 Kilgore. 



The accessible literature upon the subject has been carefully searched by the 

 writers of the different chapters, and an attempt made to embodj' in the bulletin 

 the most important facts found in general treatises, special articles, and experiment- 

 station publications. Quite complete references to the original sources of informa- 

 tion are given in foot notes, and a supplemental bibliography is given containing a 

 list of works which arc not referred to in the body of the bulletin. 



" On many topics long search has revealed a surprising paucity of reliable infor- 

 mation. It is evident that thus far very few careful investigations of the cotton 

 plant have been made. A great field of research remains open to our agricultural 

 experiment stations, on which they have hardly begun to enter. When we consider 

 how vast are the interests involved in the cotton industry, we realize the total inad- 

 equacy of the ettorts thus far put forth to solve the perplexing problems confronting 

 the cotton planter. This bulletin will have served an important purpose if it calls 

 attention to the need of more thorough investigation of these problems and stimu- 

 lates useful inquiries in this direction." 



Chufas or grass nuts {Florida Jijr., 24 {1S97), No. 8, pp. 113, i74).— Popular 

 description and directions for culture. 



Report on certain Indian fibers, F. M. Able (/Ir/Z. Ledger Calentfa, 1S9G, Xo. G; ahs. 

 in But. Centhh, 69 (1897), Xo. 1, p. 28). — Chemical studies were made of the fibers 

 of Hibiscus ahelmochiis, Malachra capitaia, and Abroma auyusta, and the results 

 tabulated. 



Effect of continuous cropping upon the productiveness of flax and peas, 

 Strebel ( Wiiri. Wochenbl. Landw., 1897, No. 1, pp. 3, 4). 



Forage plants, E. .J. Wicksox (Calif or nia Sta, Rpt. 1895, pp. 319-333, pis. 5). — 

 Brief notes are given upon the following forage plants distributed by the station 

 with reports upon their growth by voluntary experimenters in dift'erent parts of 

 the State: Saltbush (Atriplex semibaccatiim and J. Jeptocarpa), sachaline, tagasaste 

 {CytisHS proliferus albiis), Sida elUottii, cowpea, flat pea, Jerusalem artichokes, square- 

 pod pea {Lotus tetragonolobus), snail clover Aledicago ti(rhinata), crimson clover, tall 

 oat grass, Texas blue grass {Poa araehnifera), Hungarian Ijrome grass, Schrader's 

 brome grass, Japanese wheat grass {Agropyrum japonicam). Milium multiftorum, 

 Johnson grass, Kafir corn, esparcet, Jersey kale, and buckeye. 



Tests of new grain varieties, N. Westermeieu {Dcut. landw. Presse, M {1897), 

 Nos. 10, p. 79; 11, pp. 86, 87; 12, p. 98). — Details are given of trials made at Kloster 

 Hadmersleben in 1896 with 6 varieties of spring wheat, 8 of barley, and 9 of oats. 



Useful and ornamental grasses, F. Lamson-Sckibneu ( V. S. Dept. Agr., Division 

 of Agrostology Bui. 3, pp. 119, figs. 89). — This bulletin aims to give an account of 

 those characters and qualities of the more important grasses with which "one must 

 become familiar in order to direct liis efforts intelligently in the improvement of 

 the forage and grazing resources of the country." It includes a list classifying the 

 dift'erent grasses according to their uses, descrii)tion8 of the different species arranged 

 alphabetically according to scientific names, and an alphabetical list of the common 

 English or local names which serves as an index to the descriptions. About 370 

 species are described and many of them are illustrated by original cuts showing 

 general characteristics. 



