i!»io] FIELD CROPS. -1 



the Band. Observations were made on the relative effects of the different 

 concentrations upon the life period, belghl of growth, and leaf area for all the 

 varieties stodled, and upon aodule development and the blossoming period In 

 certain of the varieties. 



Windsor bean (Viola faba), Blackeye cowpea {Vigna sinensis), and Mexican 

 garbanzo (Cicer arietinum) were found to be Less affected bj sodium chlorid 

 than the other varieties tested, while Lewis lima (Phaseolus tinnitus), and 

 White tepary ( /'. acutifolius var. latifolius) were less affected than the other 

 varieties of /'. vulgaris employed In the test. None of the plants grew In the 1 

 per « -t -i > t solution, while only the Windsor bean and the Mexican garbanzo sur- 

 vived in the 0.5 per cent solution. 



Nodules developed on all varieties excepl the lima, tepary, and garbanzo, 

 and were most numerous and largest In the control cultures, diminishing In 

 size and number as the concentration of the solution increased, and disap- 

 pearing entirely In the 0.3 per cent solution. Differences In the degree of 

 Injury sustained by the different Legumes with regard to aodule production 

 arc held to indicate a specific alkali tolerance for the nodule-forming organ- 

 Isms themselves. Other effects of sodium chlorid upon plant development in- 

 cluded retardation of germination, height of growth, and blossoming period, 

 reduction in the number and size of leaves, and premature death. 



Our colonial agriculture. — XII, Fibers, G. van Itkrson, jb. (0>/.< Koloniale 

 Landbouuo.—XII, Vezelstoffen. Haarlem: H. D. Tjeenk Willink & Son, inn. pp. 

 80, figs. /•?). — This is one of the series of popular handbooks, edited by J. 

 Dekker, on the agricultural products of the Dutch East Indies, it deals with 

 the production and utilization of various fiber plants. 



Field beans, G. Stewart (Utah Sta. Circ. 87 (1919), pp. ■'• /■<• fig*. t5).- This 

 is a rather detailed account of the distribution and adaptations of the crop, to- 

 gether with a description of the field practices and cultural methods employed 

 in growing, harvesting, thrashing, and marketing beans in Utah. Brief notes 

 are presented on bean pests and on the utilization of beans. 



Little Navy Wonder, Utah Pea, White Marrow, and Michigan Tea are deemed 

 to be the best varieties in the order named. 



Our colonial agriculture. — IX, Cassava, K. R. F. Blokzeiji (Ohze Koloniale 

 Landbouw. -IX, De Cassave. Haarlem: H. n. Tjeenk Willink «(• Son, 1916, pp. 

 I7V7+70, figs. 24).- This is one of the series of popular handbooks noted above. 

 It deals with the cultural methods and field practices employed In growing 

 cassava, and gives a rather detailed account of the preparation of the differ 

 products obtained from the plant. A brief ace, mid of the history and bo- 

 tanical relationships of the plant and of cassava diseases Is also included, and 

 the results of chemical analyses of the roots are noted. 



Breeding new castor beans, O. E. White (Jour. Heredity, (1918), No. S, /</>. 

 195-200, figs. 5). — The author briefly outlines the possibilities of crop improve- 

 ment with the castor bean on the basis of obsen ations made in breeding work at 



the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Many varieties are said to br 1 time t.. their 



most prominent characters immediately. Even under favorable conditions ON 

 pollination was observed in only about "> per cent of the plant-. 



Relation between yield and ear characters in ccrrn. T. B. BUTCHESON and 

 T. K. Wolfe (Jo«r. Anicr. Sue. Anion.. 10 (1918), No. "'. /. '.—The 



authors describe work done at the Virginia Experiment Station during 1916 

 and 1017 in a study of the relation between corn yields and certain ear charac- 

 ters of the progeny of seed ears selected at random. Boone County White 

 grown at the station for nine years and selected for earllness was employed. 

 In 1016 12 high-yielding and 10 low-yielding strains, and in 1917 high-yielding 



