338 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 38 



Eureka silage corn sown at the rate of 15 lbs. per acre with 15 lbs. of soy 

 beans yielded nearly as much corn as where 15 lbs. of corn were planted alone, 

 the total yield being increased about one-sixth by the beans. Doubling the rate 

 of seeding resulted in a decreased yield of corn scarcely compensated by the 

 beans. It was concluded that the beans had no positive effect in increasing 

 the nitrogen content of the corn, although that of the mixture was increased. 



Berseem as a new fodder crop for India, G. S. Henderson {Agr. Research 

 Inst. Pusa Bui. 66 (1916), pp. 8, jjIs. 3; abs. in Nature [London'], 99 (1917), 

 No. 2476, p. 131). — The cultivation of berseem {Trifolium ale.randrinvm) as a 

 forage crop in Egypt is described. The crop is usually pastured or employed 

 as a soiling crop or for seed production. Berseem hay is said to be of excellent 

 quality but not yet of any great economic importance. 



The castor oil plant in Egypt, V. Mosseri (Bui. Union Agr. Egypte, 15 

 (1917), No. 118, pp. 29). — The cultivation of the castor oil plant (Ricinus com- 

 munis) in Egypt is discussed in detail, and studies of the influence of soil and 

 climate upon oil production reported. 



The weight of seed and percentage of hulls and seed were found to vary with 

 the variety, and in the same variety with the region, the season, and the crop. 

 The physical condition of the soil is said to have less effect on the crop than 

 excessive soil moisture or excessive alkalinity of the soil, these last-named prop- 

 erties affecting the weight of the seed and, to an even greater extent, the per- 

 centage of hulls and kernels. 



The oil content of the seed was found to be largely dependent upon atmos- 

 pheric conditions prevailing at the time of the formation and maturation of the 

 seed, varying with the variety, the locality, the season, and the crop. The oil 

 content was apparently increased in the same variety when the latter was 

 transported from the north to the south and diminished with reversed condi- 

 tions. It also appeared that there was a correlation between grain weight and 

 oil content. 



Ordinary white clover seed versus wild white clover seed, T. J. .Jenkin 

 (Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 23 (1917), No. 12, pp. J202-i20S).— Numerical data 

 are presented and discussed in an effort to determine the real differences exist- 

 ing in permanent pasture formation where equal quantities of ordinary white 

 clover and wild white clover were used. The experiments w^ere begun in 1914 

 at a number of centers where permanent pastures were to be established, and 

 observations on the percentage of area covered by white clover at the end of 

 18 and of 30 months reported. The seeding mixtures compared included wild 

 white clover, ordinary white Dutch clover, and ordinary white clover. The 

 observations briefly summarized were as follows : 



Wild white clover demonstrated its superiority over ordinary white clover in 

 most cases at about 18 months after seeding. In all cases this superiority be- 

 came obvious by 30 months after seeding unless development had been checked. 

 The average percentage of area covered by white clover 30 months after seed- 

 ing was 19.7 for wild white clover, 2.13 for ordinary white Dutch, and 1.74 for 

 ordinary white clover. 



Analyses of agricultural yield.— Ill, The influence of natural environ- 

 mental factors upon the yield of Egyptian cotton, W. L. Balls (Phil. Trans. 

 Roy. Soo. London, Ser. B, 208 (1917), No. 352, pp. 157-223, figs. i9).— Supple- 

 menting an examination of the effects of such environmental factors as distance 

 and date of planting (E. S. R., 36, pp. 36, 37) on the yield curve of Egyptian 

 cotton, the author presents a study of the following factors : Soil fertility, hard- 

 pan (soil texture), soil depth, shortage of soil water, over watering, root as- 

 phyxiation, weather, and climate. Statistical evidence secured from observa- 



