1918] FIELD CROPS. 341 



The total dry matter in rice plants increased up to maturity, the greatest 

 increase occurring, however, before the formation of the flowers. The per- 

 centage of nitrogen showed a steady and continuous decrease from the first 

 to the last period of growth, the most rapid decline being noted in the second 

 period. There was a very slight increase in total nitrogen in the roots during 

 the last stages. The phosphoric acid content of the above-ground portions 

 varied but slightly during the seedling and flowering stages, while in the roots 

 there was a slight but regular decline through all stages. The percentage of 

 potash in the above-ground parts increased from the seedling to the pre- 

 flowering stage, after which there was a decline. In the roots the decline set 

 in after the transplanting stage. As the ears formed, a concentration of nitro- 

 gen, phosphoric acid, and potash occurred in the grain at the expense of the 

 other parts of the plant. The assimilation of the three principal plant food ele- 

 ments was practically completed by the flowering stage, hence the earlier stages 

 were more or less critical. No downward transmigration of the absorljed 

 nitrogen and potash into the soil was observed. With a yield of 900 lbs. of 

 dry grain the soil suffered a loss of 29.3.3 lbs. of nitrogen, 9.64 lbs. of phos- 

 phoric acid, and 49.69 lbs. of potash per acre when the grain and straw were 

 removed. 



Rye growing in the Southeastern States, C. E. Leighty {U. 8. Dept. Agr., 

 Farmers' Bui. 894 (1917), pp. 14)- — The advantages of increased rye production 

 and the conditions under which rye is deemed preferable to wheat in the south- 

 eastern United States are outlined. Field practices and cultural methods em- 

 ployed in growing the crop are discussed and the principal weeds and insect 

 and disease enemies of the crop noted. 



Sorg-hums for forage in South Dakota, M. Champlin and G. Winkight 

 (South Dakota Sta. Bui. 174 U917), pp. 624-645, figs. i5).— This bulletin reports 

 the results of comparative trials of different sorghums and outlines directions 

 for growing the crop based on field experiments conducted partly in coopera- 

 tion with the U. S. Dei)artment of Agriculture on the station farms at Brook- 

 ings, Cottonwood, Eureka, Highmore, and Vivian. The experimental work 

 covered the period from 1912-1916, inclusive. 



The sorghums are regarded as valuable catch crops and especially profitable 

 under weather conditions unfavorable to corn, but were not otherwise deemed 

 superior to the latter. Sudan grass proved best for hay purposes, varieties of 

 amber cane such as Minnesota Amber and Dakota Amber for high tonnage of 

 coarse forage, and Dwarf IMilo for silage. Sudan grass gave the highest aver- 

 age yields when grown in drill rows 6 and 12 in. apart, amounting to 2.84 and 

 2.68 tons per acre, respectively, although satisfactory yields were secured when 

 the crop was grown in cultivated rows. Amber cane and Dwarf Milo gave 

 the best results when grown as cultivated crops. Seeding from May 20 to 

 June 1 or later is recommended and the importance of shallow seeding em- 

 phasized. 



Sugar beets in South Dakota, J. H. Shepakd and R. C. Sherwood (South 

 Dakota Sta. Bui. 17S (1917), pp. 592-620, figs. i2).— This reports the continua- 

 tion of work with sugar beets, previously noted (B. S. R, 29, p. 635), giving a 

 brief discussion for each season from 1913 to 1916, inclusive, together with 

 tabulated data showing the results of variety tests for each year. 



Better results were obtained by analyzing the mother beets in the spring and 

 planting immediately rather than by removing the roots from storage for analy- 

 sis during the winter. The loss in sugar content during storage is estimated 

 to be about 2 per cent. The mother beets selected from the different varieties 

 have shown a variation in sugar content ranging from 18 to 22 per cent. 



