FIELD CROPS. 887 



Flax culture, Strehl, {Jahrh. deut. landw. Ges., 9 (1894), pp. 137, 

 138). — As the result of 10 years' work the autbor condemns the use of 

 fresh stable manure on flax. An application of 540 lbs. of kaiiiit and 

 27 to 54 lbs. of soluble phosphoric acid per acre is recommended. The 

 kainit is applied in the fall, superphosphate before planting in spring. 

 The use of nitrate of soda is not advised, as it may cause the crop to 

 lodge. 



Preparation of the soil, as thorough as for beets, is advised. Plow- 

 ing so deep as to bring to the surface some raw soil is not regarded as 

 injurious. A shallow seed bed is made and the seed is sown as early 

 in the spring as practicable. Directions for harvesting and marketing 

 flax and an estimate of the cosV of flax production are given. 



Flat pea, F. Lamson-Scribner ( U. 8. Dept. Agr., Division of Botany 

 Circular 4, pp. 7, figs. 2). — The subjects treated are description, history, 

 uses, cultivation, and rate of growth of the flut pea {Lathyrus sylves- 

 iris). The author believes more extensive cultivation is necessary 

 before the true value of this plant can be definitely ascertained. It 

 requires soil in which the water is at least 13 ft. below the surface. 

 Its early growth is slow and it is usually not mowed until the third 

 yfear. 



Effect of fertilizers on lupines, Damseaux {Jour. Ass. Anc. EUv. 

 Gembloux, 4 {1894), J^o. 9, pp. 328-330; ahs. in Centbl. agr. GJiem., 23 

 {1894), No. 12, pp. 850, 85J).— The yields of yellow lupines, under the 

 influence of different manures, are given in the following table: 



Yield per acre of green material of yellow lupines and nitrogen contained Iherein, 



Yield 

 per acre. 



Nitrogen. 



No fertilizer 



624 lbs. kaiuit 



49(' lbs. quicklime 



490 lbs. quicklime 



624 Ib.s. kainit 



1,07U lbs. Thomas f>la<) 

 1,070 lbs. Thomas sla;^ 

 624 lbs. kainit 



Pounds. 



27, 097 



28, 302 

 33,008 



35, 006 



32, 076 



32, 789 



Pounds. 

 136 

 142 

 166 



176 



160 



164 



The yield was consideinbly increased where quicklime was used, 

 although the yellow lupine does not prefer a strongly calcareous soil. 



The unfertilized plat yielded 7,587 lbs. of fresh roots containing 1,517 

 lbs. of dry matter. The plat fertilized with lime and kainit, though 

 making above ground a much larger yield of green material than the 

 unfertilized plat, afi'orded only 5,569 lbs. of fresh roots containing 1,114 

 lbs. of dry matter. 



The plants artificially provided with fertilizing materials produced a 

 smaller amount of roots than those which were compelled to obtain 

 their supply entirely from the soil. 



Fertilizer experiments on meadows, E. P. Wright {Bpt. Expts. 

 Manuring, 1893, Glasgoic and West Scotland Tech. Col. Glasgow: 1894, 



