FIELD CROPS. 



41 



Shrinkage by months in four varieties of corn in the ear. 



Date. 



Mammoth 

 Red. 



Per ct ill. 



October 25 0. 00 



November 25 "■ ' ;i1 



December 25 9. 12 



January 25 11.40 



February 25 12. 92 



March 25 - 14.82 



April 25 20. 53 



May 25 20. 53 



June 25 i 22. 05 



July 25 22. 05 



Kegley 

 i (olden 

 Beauty. 



l'i r <•< at. 

 0.00 

 6. 66 

 7.71 

 9. 82 

 1 1 . 57 

 13.33 

 18.24 

 18.59 

 20. 35 

 21.40 



Iowa Sil- 

 ver Mine. 



l'i r c< nt. 

 0.00 

 6.54 

 8.00 

 9. 80 

 12. 00 

 13. 45 

 18.90 

 19.27 

 20.00 

 21.09 



Yellow 



Fa nn. 



l'i r i'i nt. 

 0.00 

 7. 36 

 8. 52 

 10.85 

 12.79 

 14. 72 

 19.37 

 19.76 

 21.31 

 21.70 



Of 46 varieties of corn from various parts of the State the 10 best gave an average 

 yield of 77.46 bu. per acre and the 10 poorest 27.89 bu. The yields of the entire list 

 ranged from 7.62 bu. to 91.44 bu. per acre. The lower yields were largely due to a 

 poor stand, but some varieties, even with a poor stand, gave comparatively large 

 yields. 



The different steps in the selection of seed ears and kernels are described. A 

 score card, with an explanation of points in corn judging, concludes the bulletin. 



Sea Island cotton in the United States and the West Indies, I). Morris and 

 J. E. Bovell ( West Indian Bui., 4 {1904), No. 4, pp. 287-374, jigs. 7).— This article 

 is mainly a report on the culture of Sea Island cotton in the United States, and con- 

 tains largely information obtained and observations made on a visit to the regions 

 where the long staple cotton is grown. The different steps in the culture of the 

 crop are discussed and preparation of the fiber for market and use of the seed are 

 described. Notes on insect pests and plant diseases injurious to cotton are given. 



On the influence of manganese salts on flax, Y. Fckittome {Bui. Col.Agr., 

 Tokyo Imp. Univ., 6 {1904), No. 2, pp. 1S7, 138, pi. 1).— A joint application of iron and 

 manganese had a marked effect on the growth of flax plants, while each alone, "given 

 at the rate of 0.4 gm. per pot of 8 kg. of soil, showed but a small increase in yield 

 over the check test. An application of 0.02 gm. of cobalt nitrate per pot also exerted 

 a stimulating influence. 



Maguey in the Philippines, H. T. Edwards {Philippine Bureau A gr., Farmers' 

 Bui. 10, pp. 14). — A popular bulletin describing the maguey plant, its history and 

 importance, and giving instructions regarding its culture and the treatment of the 

 fiber. 



Comparative value of different varieties of mangels, T. Remy (lllus. Landw. 

 Ztg.,24 {1904) , No. 16, pp. 169-172, jig*. 12). — Seventeen varieties were compared and 

 the results obtained in the total yield and in the production of dry matter tabulated. 

 Each variety is briefly described. The Eckendorf variety produced the highest ton- 

 nage of beets per acre. Carter half-sugar beet, which stood first in the production 

 of dry matter, ranked thirteenth in the yield of the beets. 



Breeding oats resistant to lodging, A. Kirsche ( lllus. Landw. Ztg., 24{904), No. 

 20, p. 217; Deut. Landw. Presse,Sl {1904), No. 20, p. 171). — Measurements of the length 

 and strength of internodes of plants from the breeding nursery are given in tables, 

 and methods of obtaining the data are described. 



In breeding varieties resistant to lodging, the lower internodes should be strength- 

 ened because the greatest strain falls on this part of the stem. The weight of the stem, 

 according to the author, was no indication of its strength, but, in general, strong 

 lower internodes indicated good strength in the rest of the culm. The lower inter- 

 node should be shortened, but a plant with a short internode should be used for 

 breeding purposes only when the stem shows good strength. In those tests the 

 strength was determined by placing the part of the stem to be tested upon 2 points, 



