FIELD CROPS. 285 



hraiKls examined were up to or above the guaranty, and none failed to fuiiiish the- 

 coinniereial equivalent of the guarantj'. As a rule the quality of the crude stock used 

 was apparently good. Nearly a thinl of the Ijrands contained no water-soluble nitro- 

 gen. Sulphate of potash, claimed to be present in five-sixths of the brands, was 

 actually found in only one-sixth. In some cases the phosphoric acid was largely in 

 insdluljle or reverted forms. The average selling price approximated $28.23, the 

 average valuation $20.18. The average composition of the fertilizers was somewhat 

 hiiiher than that of last year. Tables are given containing formulas in wliicli rela- 

 tively small, medium, and large quantities each of nitrogen, available jihosphoric 

 acid, and potash are combined with varying quantities of the other ingredients, and 

 their use in the preparation of home-mixtures for different purposes is explained. 



Licensed commercial fertilizers, F. W. Woll and A. Vivian ( Wisconmi Sla. 

 Bill. 9^, pp. 3-l:i). — Analyses of 9 samples of fertilizers licensed for sale in Wisconsin 

 in 1902 are reported, with notes on the sources and forms of nitrogen, phos]>horic 

 acid, and potash in fertilizers; the ])urchase and use of fertilizers; the valuation of 

 fertilizers; and the value of inspection. 



Fertilizers, T. Macfarlane {Lah. Inland Iter. Depl. Ottctfrti, Cmindu, 1903, Bid. SI, 

 lip. 41). — Analyses and valuations of 106 samples of fertilizers furnished by manufac- 

 turers and importers, and 85 collected in the open market in Canada, are reported, 

 with notes on the nature and use of natural manures and commercial fertilizers. 



Results of fertilizer control, 1900-1901, (r. Thoms {Die Eryehnme der Dunger- 

 Knnlrulr, 1900-1901. Riga: Junrk d- Polieic^h/, 1902, pp. 55).— This is the usual 

 annual summary of the results of the fertilizer control of the experiment station at 

 Riga, Russia, with a di.scussion of various phases of the fertilizer question which 

 have l)een the subjects of studies by different investigators during the period referred 

 to, including denitritication, soil inoculation, Alinit, etc.; conservation and care of 

 manure; ])hosphatic, nitrogenous, and potassic fertilizers; the occurrence of pure 

 I'eruvian guano; poudrette and similar manures; liming and manuring; change in 

 weight of certain fertilizers on exposure to the air; the influence of water and fertil- 

 izing on the composition and ash of potatoes; determination of the fertilizing require- 

 ments of typical soils; the surface treatment of upland moor soils; the importance 

 and possiltility of jiartially replacing barnyard manure with commercial fertilizers in 

 grape culture; fertilizers for lield culture of cucumbers; commercial fertilizers for 

 potatoes; fertilizing meadows with kainit, superphosphate, and Thomas slag; fertil- 

 izing potatoes with poudrette. All of the more important articles refei'red to have 

 been noted in the Record. 



FIELD CROPS. 



The [California Culture] substations, C'. II. Shinn {California Sta. lipt. 1899- 

 1901, pt. 1, pp. 124-142, figs. 4). — Notes are given on the results obtained with differ^ 

 ent crops at the Foothill, Southern Coast Range, San Joaquin Valley, and Southern 

 Calif(jrnia Culture substations during a series of years. Macaroni wheats grown in 

 the different localities varied considerably in quality, the greatest change and increase 

 in starch being observed at Amador. The hardy Algerian wheats under test deterior- 

 ated less at some stations than at others. At Tulare the hardy wheats on trial tillered 

 more and yielded better from year to year. Vetches have been tested innn 3 to 10 

 seasons. The following are recommended: Viciaiillosa, V. saliva cordata, Y. satira, 

 v. narhoneyisis, V. bythinica, and V. fulgens. A yield of over 17 tons of green forage 

 per acre was obtained from one cutting of Atriplex nummularia, the plants being 2 

 years old. A. pamparum has also given promising results. Rhagodia spineseens iner- 

 V///.S- and R. linifolia have shown great forage value and great endurance of drought 

 and frost. Their leaves contain less salt than species of Atriplex. Rliagodia linifolia 



