FIELD CROPS. 983 



Belgium. HoweYer, the entire destruction of the male plants so as to 

 prevent fructification not only diminishes the yield, but delays the 

 development of the cones. 



The author favors curing by means of flue heat rather than with open 

 fires, because the former conserves the natural aroma, reduces the dan- 

 ger from fire, and permits the easy regulation of temperature and 

 draft. He states that the initial temperature of drying should not 

 exceed 95° F., and that the temperature should never rise above 1 04° F. 

 A temperature too high causes the loss of essential oil, imparts a dis- 

 tinct and undesirable odor, and injures the appearance of the product. 



He regards sulphuring as indispensable, as it destroys fungi and thus 

 permits the easier conservation of hops, without, as he states, endan- 

 gering the health of consumers of beer. Knemmerer had shown that 

 hops took up about 0.48 per cent of their weight of sulphurous acid, of 

 which, however, only one fourth or one fifth was retained permauently, 

 the remainder being dissipated in about 4 weeks. 



The author regards 1 to 1^ lbs. of sulphur as sufficient for 100 lbs. of 

 hops, if the sulphur is burned early in the process of drying. 



Oats, A. C. Magruder [Ollahoma Sta. Bui 16, pp. 55-40).— With the 

 Jensen hot- water treatment for smut the yield was increased 1.41 bu. per 

 acre. When the seeil bed was rolled twice the yield was slightly 

 reduced. Broadcasting afforded a smaller yield than did the press 

 drill. Subsoiling reduced the yield on alkali land. Fifty varieties, of 

 which the seed was grown in Oklahoma or farther south, averaged 13.8 

 bu. per acre; 34 varieties from the States farther north 12.4 bu. The 

 variety Lincoln is recommended. Deep fall plowing gave a larger yield 

 than deep spring plowing or shallow fall plowing. Other subjects brietiy 

 mentioned are amount of mixture between varieties, quantity of seed, 

 and continuous culture of oats without manure. 



Varieties of potatoes, F. W. Eane ( West Virginia Sta. Bui. 38, pp. 

 32-38, 46-50, Jigs. 3). — Of 36 varieties tested on single or duplicate 

 rows 75 ft. long, the following are recommended: American Wonder, 

 Rural New Yorker No. 2, Great Divide, Superior, Crown Jewel, Early 

 Everitt, and Maggie Murphy. 



Potato experiments, R. H. Miller and E. H. Brinkley {Blary- 

 land Sta. Bui. 31, pp. 73-82). — The experiments consisted of tests of 

 varieties, green manuring, spraying, distance, methods of cultivation, 

 and amount of seed. When crimson clover was plowed under as a 

 green manure early in May the yield increased by more than 19 bu. per 

 acre. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture afforded a larger yield than 

 the untreated plat, and when spraying was begun early the yield was 

 further increased. Distances of 14^ by 30 in. afforded a larger yield 

 than divStances of 12 by 36 in. Deep cultivation, ridge culture, and 

 cultivation continued late in the season proved slightly advantageous. 

 Small whole seed potatoes afforded a larger profit than large whole 

 potatoes and cuttings. 



