1919] FIELD CROPS. 137 



The use of oats as a cover crop in sowing the seed mixture gave In general a 

 better stand and a somewhat larger yield of hay than the use of rye for the 

 same purpose. 



Botanical analyses of the various meadows, the yields of hay, and the nitrogen 

 production by the crops in the different localities for the several years are re- 

 ported and tabulated, and the influence of weather conditions and methods of 

 meadow management are discussed. It is concluded that in the maintenance 

 of temporary meadows a good stand of white clover in the plant mixture is 

 highly important. 



Alfalfa, F. App (.V. J. Dept. Agr. Bui. 15 (1918). pp. 51, figs. 13).— This de- 

 scribes cultural methods and field practices deemed best for growing the crop in 

 New Jersey, together with notes on alfalfa insects and diseases. The organiza- 

 tion of the New Jersey Alfalfa Association and its activities for 1917 are also 

 outlined. 



[Utilizing waste land in New Jersey for alfalfa] (New Jersey Stas. Bui. 

 S17 (1917), p. 27). — Observations on the utilization of large areas of waste land 

 in the State are said to indicate that some of these soils can be brought to the 

 point of profitable alfalfa production by the use of lime, phosphorus, and legumes. 



Primitive methods of maize seed preparation, H. H. Biggar (Jour. Amer. 

 For. Agron., 10 (1918), No. J f , pp. 183-185).— The author gives a brief account 

 of the preparation of seed corn by the Indians, based on a study of their agri- 

 cultural practices in maize production, covering 15 Indian reservations in Minne- 

 sota, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, and Manitoba. 



Various methods of sprouting the seed are noted, with particular reference to 

 the use of slender nettle, Urtica gracilis, in much the same way as the so-called 

 rag-doll seed tester. It is stated that the principal corn grown by the Indians 

 of the Middle West was Zea amiilacea. 



In a test to determine the relative amounts of water absorbed by different 

 types of corn. Blue Flour corn was found to absorb 18 per cent of water, Reid 

 Yellow Dent 13.5 per cent, and U. S. Selection No. 193, a flint corn. 6.G per cent. 



Cutthroat grass, Panicum combsii, C. V. Piper (Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron., 

 10 (1918), No. 4- PP- 162-16.'f). — The author notes the presence of P. combsii, 

 hitherto regarded as a comparatively rare species, in great abundance on very 

 fine, slippery, black muck in Polk County, central Florida, where it is known as 

 "cutthroat grass" and the areas as "cutthroats." The grass is also said to be 

 abundant in similar areas in Osceola, De Soto, and Lee counties. The cutthroats 

 usually occur in seepage areas on the sides of slopes, especially sand ridges. 

 Numerous species of the plant were found in bloom in November, 1917. The role 

 of the grass in so-called " salt sickness " is briefly discussed. 



Glandular pubescence in various Medicago species, R. McKee (Jour. Amer. 

 Soc. Agron., 10 (1918), No. 4- PP- 159-162). — The author records numerous ob- 

 servations, made chiefly at Chico, Cal.. on the occurrence of glandular pubescence 

 in various species of Medicago, particularly M. lupulina and M. orbicularis, in an 

 effort to determine the effect of environmental conditions upon this character. 

 The following species were observed to have glandular pubescence strongly de- 

 veloped on the pods at least : M. soleirolii, M. rigidula, M. minima, M. disciformis, 

 M. blanchcana, M. tunetana, M. falcata viscosa, and M. gactula. Other species 

 having the character less well developed or appearing only under certain condi- 

 tions include M. murcx sorentinii, M. orbicularis. .1/. lupulina. and M. sativa. 



The number of hairs per square millimeter varied considerably in different 

 species, occurring in numbers that could not be definitely counted in those species 

 in which they are always well developed (M. scutcllata and M, rugosa), while 



10733S°— 19 4 



