FIELD CROPS. 845 



the plant waH lowered. A suriiluH of lime in the soil in connection with a high-water 

 content increased the production of straw and chaff, l)ut decn>ased the yield of grain. 

 The percentage of lime in the plant was highest where the quantity of potash in the 

 soil was high, and lowest where it was low. The (|uantities of nitrogen, {)()tash, and 

 ])hosph(iric acid removed from the soil by the jilants were increased by increasing 

 the soil moisture. It was further shown that the amount of soil moisture has a 

 marked influence on the development of the roots, for an increase in soil moisture 

 favored root development, while a decrease retarded it. The percentage of phos- 

 l>horic acid in the roots seemed to increase with the water content of the soil, but the 

 jiercentage of nitrogen decreased. Heinrich's conclusions that the lack of plant food 

 is indicated by the roots were confirmed in general l)y the results of these experi- 

 ments. The authors also state that the conditions of soil fertility may be determined 

 in some cases as well or even better by the analyses of the oat plants grown than by 

 an analysis of the soil itself. In these experiments, owing to the difference in 

 weight of the plants harvested, the percentage of phosphoric acid was the highest in 

 the plants which had received no phosphoric acid in the fertilizer. 



The potato crop, O. M. Morkis ( Oklahoma Sta. Bui. 52, irp. 1-14)- — A general dis- 

 cussion on commercial potato growing, including notes on planting, cultivation, har- 

 vesting, and storing is given, and the results of experiments in different lines are 

 briefly reported. The yields of 37 varieties tested in 1900 and 1901 are given in a 

 table. The first year Early Six Weeks headed the list with a yield of 213 bu. per 

 acre, and the second year Early Fortune, with a yield of 111 bu. 



The results of several exi)eriments at the station confirmed the opinion of practical 

 growers in that region that the land shonld be plowed in the fall before the potatoes 

 are planted in the spring. It was further observed at the station that potatoes 

 planted March 14 came up as early and matured as early as potatoes planted Febru- 

 ary 27. Comparisons of yields from cultivated and mulched plats were largely in 

 favor of the mulched plats. C)f a number of methods of keeping potatoes, mulching 

 with straw and leaving them in the soil till fall, proved most effective. In tests 

 made of this method the losses due to decay were nearly 5 per cent in one instance 

 and about 15 per cent in another. 



Culture of tlie potato in field experiments at Grignon in 1900, P. P. Dehe- 

 RAiN {Ann. Agron., Jl {I'Ml), Xo. 2, pj>. D0-94).—ln 1900, 3 varieties of potatoes, 

 Kichter Imperator, Prof. Maercker, and Peach Blow, were grown after different crops 

 and received different fertilizer applications. Entire tubers and sets were used for 

 seed. The detailed results are shown in a table. Richter Imperator yielded 21,500 

 kg.. Prof. Maercker, 19,300 kg., and Peach Blow, 18,400 kg. of tubers per hectare. 

 The starch content of the tubers of Richter Imperator was 22.6 per cent; of Prof. 

 Maercker, 25.6 percent; and of Peach Blow, 18.8 percent, with a total yield of 5,758, 

 5,438, and 4,902 kg. of starch per hectare, respectively. 



Old potatoes made new {Florida Agr., 28 {1901), No. 37, p. C07).— Description 

 of a California process of renovating old potatoes so that they have the appearance of 

 new f)()tatoes. 



The international ramie congress, Paris, 1900 {('ongrcs inlmiational de la 

 ramie, Paris, 1900. Paris: Bureaux de la Revue CkUtures Colonialen, 1901, pp. 107, jigs. 

 /4)._This publication contains the proceedings of the international ramie congress 

 held in Paris at the Exposition of 1900. The culture, preparation, and utilization of 

 ramie are discussed. The i>reface to the proceedings is written by M. Cornu, presi- 

 dent of the congress. 



Rice growing in the Logan district and its preparation for market, F. W. 

 Peek ( Qiurn.slan'l Agr. Jonr., 9 { 1901) , No. ..', pp. 2:U-2.iS, ph. .}, Jig. 1) .—This article 

 is a general discussion on the culture of rice and its preparation for market. The 

 prospects of the rice industry in Queensland are considered. 



