FIELD CROPS. 363 



forms "i" potash is discussed, and the author proposes the use of a mixture of sugar- 

 house refuse and kainit, in the expectation that under the influence of rain and air 

 this mixture will form gypsum and potassium carbonate. — p. fireman. 



Experiments with sweet potatoes at Barbados, R. R. Hall and J. R. Bovell 

 i West Indian Bui., 5 (1904), No. 1- PP- 41-52). — The yield of tubers and vines and 

 the analyses of both with reference to food and fertilizer constituents are tabulated 

 for 28 varieties of sweet potatoes grown in a variety test. The heaviest yielding 

 varieties were White Gilkes 4.97 tons per acre, Moffard 5.01 tons, Hurley 4.59 tons, 

 Minuet 4.42 tons, and Vincelonian 3.49 tons per acre. The food units in pounds per 

 acre are calculated for some of the varieties. Descriptions in brief notes are given 

 of the 28 varieties tested. 



Variety tests with vetch (Vicia sativa) and field peas ( Pisum arvense ) 

 (Dent. Lanclw. Presse, 31 (1904), No. 58, pp. 510, 511).— Twelve varieties of vetch 

 gave an average yield of 21,800 kg. of green forage and 5,028 kg. of hay per hectare; 

 and 6 varieties of held peas, 25,830 kg. of green forage and 4,480 kg. of hay. With 

 the exception of the Swedish variety, the varieties of field peas were about equal in 

 hay production to the lowest ranking varieties of vetch. The field pea varieties 

 varied 28 per cent in the production of air-dry substance, and the vetch varieties 33 

 per cent. 



The yield of wheat at different latitudes, N. Passerini (Atti I!. Accad. Emu. 

 Agr. Georg. Mrenze, o.ser., 1 (1904), No. 1, j>p. 126-134). — The average yield of wheat 

 from different countries is considered, and it is pointed out that the countries of 

 Europe may be divided into 3 groups, according to the average yield. The first or 

 leading group consists of Denmark, Great Britain, Norway, and Sweden; the second 

 of Germany, Holland, France, Belgium, Hungary, Roumania, and Austria, and the 

 third of Italy, Servia, and Spain. The author concludes that the yield of cereals 

 decreases with the latitude. 



Wheat production and farm life in Argentina, F. W. Bicknell ( U. S. T)ept. 

 Agr., Bureau of Statistics Bui. 27, pp. 100, pis. 10). — This bulletin discusses at some 1 

 length and with considerable detail the wheat industry of Argentina and the farm 

 conditions under which it exists. The different subjects treated are the tenure of 

 agricultural lands, the living conditions on average farms, the present and prospective 

 wheat area of the country, the land and its treatment, and in general the culture 

 and marketing of the crop. Statistics concerning the total area of wheat farms, the 

 average size of farms, the cultivated and uncultivated but arable areas of the country, 

 the price of farm lands, immigration and emigration, the yield of wheat, the cost of 

 production and transportation, and the exportation of wheat and flour are also given. 



The area of the wheat crop for 1903-4 is estimated at 10,230,311 acres, or from 15 

 to 20 per cent of the possible wheat area of the country. Only about one-third of 

 the number of wheat farmers of Argentina till their own lands, the rest being 

 renters, while in the United States only about one-third of the farmers are renters. 

 In 1903 the available public lands amounted to 237,768,303 acres. The net immigra- 

 tion for the same year was 35,359. 



The varieties of wheat grown are mainly soft or bread wheats, only a comparatively 

 small quantity of durum wheat being produced. The more important varieties have 

 been introduced from Italy, Russia, Hungary, and France. The cost of producing 

 an acre of wheat is variously estimated at $4.93, S7.03, and $7.40. The average yields 

 per acre for 10 years, ending with 1901, in different sections of the country vary 

 from 10.63 bu. to 38.84 bu. During the years 1892-1901 the total production of the 

 country ranged from 31,593,571 bu. in 1897 to 99,075,349 bu. in 1900, while the aver- 

 age price per bushel for the same period varied from $0.4793 in 1894 to $0.8562 in 

 1897. The exportation of wheat reached its height in 1903, when, it is estimated, 

 75,000,000bu. were shipped from the country. In addition, 809,628 bbls. of flour 

 were exported. 



