FIELD CROPS. 855 



grown ill Bi)heniia are classified under botanically recognized species and varieties. 

 The different kinds are described and coniiDared. 



Bermuda grass, J. Fields ( Oklahoma Sta. Bui. 55, pp. 11, figs. S). — A brief popular 

 iKiIletin on Bermuda grass in Oklahoma. A description of the grass and its culture 

 is given and the experience of a number of experiment stations and of farmers 

 throughout Oklahoma, who have tested it, is noted. "Of all the grasses tried on 

 the station farm, Bermuda alone has shown the qualities which must be possessed 

 by a i>astnre grass in Oklahoma. ... It should be started only on lawns or on 

 land intended for permanent i)asture and shoidd be kept out of fields intended for 

 cultivation." 



Bermuda grass, J. 8. Newman {South Carolina Sta. Bid. 70, pp. G). — A brief 

 ])opular bulletin on the culture of Bermuda grass. A description of the plant is given 

 and notes on its artificial propagation, the protection of the young plants from shade, 

 and the method of destroying the sod are presented. 



Im.proveinent of red. clover, M. Fischer ( FiiJiling'.^ Landw. Ztg., 52 {1903), No. 2, 

 pp. 55-59). — The author reviews the results of experiments in the improvement of 

 red clover conducted by himself and others, and concludes that for the purpose of 

 shortening the growing period selection of yellow seed from early maturing dark 

 green jtlants with many dark red inflorescences should be made. In order to 

 increase the size of the plant it is recommended that the seeds of an intense violet 

 color from slowly developing light green plants with comi^aratively few heads light 

 red in color be selected. 



Corn culture, R. J. REnniNCi {Georgia Sta. Bui. 5S, jrp. 197-218). — Experiments 

 here described are in continuation of work previously noted (E. S. R., 1-4, p. 842). 

 ^leteorological data for the year and the growing season are given in tables, and 

 notes on the use of fertilizers in corn culture are appended. 



' Among V?> varieties tested in 1892 the most prolific were Bradberry Improved, 

 ^Marlboro, and Sander Improved, yielding 12.95, 12.86, and 12.60 bu. per acre, 

 ri'spe(;tively. The least productive variety, Allen Big White, yielded only 3.60 bu. 

 ]ier acre. ( )wing to a rather poor soil and a dry season the yields were low. A test 

 of early varieties Mas made on more fertile soil, and the results obtained are judged 

 more reliable than those in the experiment just described. In this test the yields 

 ranged from 26.84 to 35.51 bu. per acre with Marlboro Prolific, Weekley Improved, 

 and Cocke Prolifiir in the order given leading in productiveness. 



A comparison of planting corn on the beds and in the water furrow resulted in 

 favor of the beds, although the season was very dry. These results and those of 

 previous years indicate that it is not advisable to plant in the water furrow. Thor- 

 ough preparation of the soil as compared with ordinary preparation gave an increase 

 in yield of only 1.16 bu. per acre, which was hardly enough to pay for the extra 

 work. Experiments in cultivation during this dry season showed that the yield 

 increased in proportion to the frequency of cultivation. Cultivating every week in 

 the dr}' season is considered better than cultivating thrice in succession every 3 weeks 

 < »r twice every 2 weeks. 



Fertilizer tests were made with the different applications of uniform cost, but the 

 drought prevented the utilization of the fertilizers applied. Attention is called to 

 tlie tinancial risk of using fertilizers when the crop is grown on dry uplands. 



Methods of corn breeding, C. G. Hopkins {Illinois Sta. Bui. S2, pp. 525-539, 

 Jiijii. 2). — This has been noted from another source (E. S. R., 14, p. 321). 



Cotton, A. Oppel {Die Baumwolle. Leipzig: Dunckcr & Humblot, 1902, j^p. 745, figs. 

 230). — This work gives the history of cotton, describes the cotton plant and its cul- 

 ture, and discusses the uses of the fiber, the by-products of the plant, and the relation 

 of cotton culture to commerce and economic conditions. In addition the cotton 

 industry in each cotton-growing country of the world is treated separately. An 

 extensive bibliography on cotton is given. 



