FIELD CROPS. 971 



The preparation of tobacco seed, A. D. Shamel (Connecticut Stale Sta. Bui. 148, 

 pp. 4). — The value of asing good seed is discussed and a method of separating heavy 

 and light seed by means of a current of air is described. 



Protein content of the wheat kernel, J. N. Harper and A. M. Peter (Kerf 

 tacky Sta. Bui. li-i. pp. 12, figs. J . — Studies on the relation between certain physical 

 characters of the wheat kernel and its chemical composition, and a proposed method 

 for improving wheat by seed selection, are reported. The station has observed that 

 introduced flinty wheats under Kentucky conditions have a tendency to become 

 softer, but that this change lias not been complete in any of the varieties under test 

 from 3 to 10 years. Some of the kernels were flinty, angular in outline, semitrans- 

 lucent, and of a dark amber color, while others were plump, starchy in appearance, 

 and light in color. The proportion of flinty kernels differed greatly in the different 

 varieties. Analyses of the 2 types of kernels were made, and the results are given 

 in a series of tables, in every instance the flinty kernels contained more protein 

 than the starchy ones. Pootung wheat showed a difference of 5.88 per cent of pro- 

 tein between the starchy and the flinty kernels and Rudy of 1 per cent, being the 

 largest and smallest differences, respectively, among 19 varieties. The difference 

 was more than 4 per cent in Pootung, Beachwood Hybrid, Jersey Fultz, Pearl Pro- 

 lific, and Improved Rice. Pootung stood highest in protein content of flinty kernels 

 with 16.55 per cent, being followed by Improved Rice with 15.17, Beachwood 

 Hybrid with 14.95, Extra Early Oakley with 14.(18. and Jersey Fultz with 14.66 per 

 cent. The widest variation in protein between any two samples, 7.44 per cent, was 

 found between the flinty kernels of Pootung and the starchy kernels of Dawson 

 Golden Chaff. The large and medium sized flinty kernels were richer in protein 

 than the smaller < mes. The small kernels near the base and tip of a head of Pootung 

 wheat were lower in protein than the larger kernels from the middle of the head. 



An examination of a large number of separate heads showed that the kernels of 

 any one head differed but little in physical appearance except in respect to size. It 

 was also observed that the grains from the several heads of any one stool were all 

 either flinty or starchy, while the grains from different stools often differed materi- 

 ally in this respect. 



Heads of Turkish Red wheat were gathered before it was quite ripe and a week 

 later when fully ripe. The unripe heads contained 49.4 per cent of flinty kernels 

 and the mature heads 47.6 per cent, ami of these kernels the protein content was 

 10.23 and 11.26 per cent, respectively. From these results it is concluded that the 

 flinty kernels are not immature. Analyses also showed that flinty kernels stored in 

 a dry place retain more moisture than starchy ones, ami that starchy wheat absorbs 

 moisture more rapidly than flinty wheat. It was found that early wheats are richer 

 in protein than late-maturing varieties. Nine varieties ripening before June 20 aver- 

 aged 14.70 per cent and t> varieties ripening after June 22 averaged only 12.41 per 

 cent of protein in the flinty kernels. The starchy kernels were more uniform in 

 composition, but also showed a falling off in protein in the later varieties. 



The results led the authors to believe that flinty kernels from the middle of the 

 head should be selected from early-maturing varieties for developing a high protein 

 type of wheat. In testing the hardness of wheat no definite relation was established 

 between the percentage of protein and the pressure required to cut the grains in two. 



Season and crop report of the Central Provinces and Berar for the year 

 1903-4, B. P. Staxdex (Dept. Lund Records and A gr., Central Provinces, Season and 

 Crop Rpt. 190.3-4, pp. 47). — The season and the production of the different crops is 

 discussed and general agricultural statistics are presented in tables. 



Report on the season and crops of the Punjab for the year 1903-4, W. 

 Rexocf (Dept. Land Records and Agr., Punjab, Season and Crop Rj/t. 1903-4, pp. 10-\- 

 XIX). — The agricultural production for the year is discussed, and statistics with ref- 

 erence to the different crops are tabulated. 



