FIELD CROPS. 459 



France, South Australia, South Africa, and Western Australia were grown to deter- 

 mine their rust-resistance rather than their productiveness, and the results are 

 arranged in tabular form in the order representing their resistance to the disease. 

 The variety Nutcut, the seed of which was obtained from Wagga, heads the list 

 and is reported as being a fine wheat for hay and grain. 



Notes are also given on the culture at the farm of alfalfa, cowpeas, swedes, rape, 

 maize, and sorghum. 



On the uncertainty of the hay crop at the agricultural college of Norway, 

 G. Holtsmark (Norsk Landmandshlad, 23 {1904), No. 27, pp. 319-321). — Observa- 

 tions on the variations in the yields of hay during the 25 years 1878-1902 show that 

 the average yield of hay on first year's meadow during this period has been 417 kg. 

 per dekare, 487 kg. on second year's, and 424 kg. on third year's meadow. By 

 applying the theory of probabilities, the probable variations from the average yields 

 were found to be 121 kg., or 29 per cent, on first year's meadow; on second year's, 

 111 kg. (22.8 per cent), and on third year's, 102 kg. (24 per cent). Another 

 method of computation gave a probable variation of 92 kg., or 20.5 per cent of an 

 average yield. — f. w. woll. 



Plan of culture trials at Danish plant experiment stations, 1904-5 

 (Tidsskr. Landbr. Planlearl, 11 (1904), pp. 199-275).— A detailed statement of the 

 various experiments in progress or planned for the year 1904-5, at the Danish plant 

 experiment stations at Lyngby, Tystofte, Abed, Askov, and Vester Hassing, as well 

 as of cooperative experiments with root crops at various farms conducted under the 

 direction of these stations. — f. w. woll. 



Yields obtained on light sandy soil without the use of barnyard manure 

 (Deut. Landv. Presse, 31 (1904), No. 54, p. 483). — The yields of potatoes and winter 

 rye for 10 years are recorded. The rotation consisted of yellow lupines for green 

 manuring grown without a nurse crop and with the use of commercial fertilizers, 

 potatoes without commercial fertilizers but receiving the benefitof the green manure, 

 and winter rye with applications of commercial fertilizers. The plats were 1 morgen 

 in size and received for lupines annually 600 lbs. of kainit. For the first crop of 

 lupines each plat received 300 lbs. of Thomas slag, and 150, 200, and 150 lbs. for the 

 second, third, and fourth crops, respectively. The potato plats received 100 lbs. of 

 Thomas slag and 250 lbs. of kainit each year. Half of the experimental field 

 received 1,100 lbs. and 1,250 lbs. of marl per morgen in 1895 and 1899, respectively. 



The rye produced an average yield of 11.25 cwt. of grain and about 26 cwt. of straw 

 per morgen. The use of marl increased the yield of rye by 61 lbs. per morgen, and 

 the yield of potatoes by 13.5 cwt., and also seemed to have reduced the scab in the 

 potato crop. The average yield of potatoes for the 10 years was 84.9 cwt. per 

 morgen. 



Staple crops, E. B. Ferris (Mississippi Sta. Bui. 83, pp. 16-34). — The experiments 

 here described are similar to those previously reported (E. S. R., 15, p. 142). Fer- 

 tilizer experiments conducted with corn, cotton, sweet potatoes, and Spanish pea- 

 nuts, showed that phosphatic and nitrogenous fertilizers increase the yields of these 

 crops on the station soil. Phosphoric acid was more effective than any other ele- 

 ment. The use per acre of from 125 to 200 lbs. of a mixture consisting of 750 lbs. of 

 cotton-seed meal and 1,250 lbs. of acid phosphate is recommended for corn and cotton. 



In the different variety tests the following were the most productive sorts: Corn — 

 White Majestic and Major Berry; cotton — Duncan Mammoth Big Boll Prolific and 

 Shine Extra Early Prolific; coicpeax — Unknown, Whip-poor-will, Southdown, and New 

 Era. Among different forage crops teosinte ranked first in yield. Cowpeas planted 

 at the rate of 60 lbs. of seed per acre yielded 2,520 lbs. of hay per acre, while half 

 that quantity of seed gave 2,440 lbs. 



Study of the variation in mineral matter during the ripening of seeds 

 (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris, 138 (1904), No. 26, pp. 1712-1714) — -The results are 



