630 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol 40 



A description of some varieties of oats cultivated in Argentina, C. D. 

 GIBOLA. (An. Soc. Rural Argentina, 52 (1918), No. 7, pp. U1-U7, figs. 5).— 

 Avena sativa varieties ampuria, colomea, and comun are briefly described and 

 illustrated. 



New experiments concerning the water requirement of different oat 

 varieties, C. von Seelhobst (Jour. Latidw., 66 (1918), No. 11, pp. 121-127). — 

 In connection with work previously noted (E. S. R., 26, p. 12S), tbe author 

 describes observations made during 1916 and 1917 at Gottingen upon the water 

 requirements of Liineberger Klay, Lochows, Strubes, GOttinger, and Petkuser 

 oats grown on soils with a moisture content of 50, 63, 76, and S9 per cent. 



In general it was found that the degree of soil moisture had a much greater 

 Influence upon yield than the variety. Marked increases in the yields of all 

 varieties followed increases in the moisture content of the soil, while the water 

 requirements of the different varieties decreased with moisture contents of 63 

 and 76 per cent, respectively, and increased with S9 per cent moisture content 



Oats in Wyoming, T. S. Parsons (Wyoming Sta. Bui. 118 (1918), pp. S-27, 

 fig. 1). — This bulletin describes work with oats grown under irrigation for the 

 period of 1911 to 1915, inclusive, embracing variety trials, date and rate of 

 seeding tests, comparisons of home-grown and imported seeds, and observations 

 on crop rotation and the use of barnyard manure for oats. Leading oat varie- 

 ties are briefly described and suggestions made for growing the crop, including 

 notes on seed treatment for smut and on the eradication of wild oats. 



It is stated that oats have given better results under all conditions than any of 

 the other grains grown at the station. Large varieties such as Swedish Select 

 are deemed best for Irrigated land, while the small sorts such as Kherson have 

 produced fair yields on dry land and have also yielded well under irrigation. 

 Fall as compared with spring plowing showed little difference in yield pro- 

 vided the seed bed was packed before seeding. Rolling after seeding did not 

 give so good results as leaving the ground in ridges. Little difference was ob- 

 served between home-grown and imported seeds provided the Latter came from 

 localities having somewhat similar conditions. Early seedings gave no ad- 

 vantage over late seedings and required a greater number of days to reach 

 maturity In every case. Early varieties matured in from 109 to 115 days after 

 seeding, and late varieties from 118 to 131 days. Oats required more water 

 than other grains, receiving on the average 2 ft. of water including rainfall. 

 Barnyard manure was found to be beneficial to the oat crop, either when 

 plowed under or when used as a top dressing on plowed ground and disked in 

 before seeding. It is recommended that oats follow a cultivated crop, but 

 that they should not be disked in the stubble. 



[Potato experiments at Wisley, 1917] (Jour. Roy. Sort. Soc, JfS (1918), 

 No. 1, pp. 114-129). — Extensive variety tests with wait-resistant strains of 

 potatoes, and cultural experiments including observations upon the effect of 

 cutting seed tubers, the influence of various dressings on the cut surfaces, a 

 comparison of greened and not-greened seed tubers with varying numbers of 

 sprouts v. tubers taken direct from storage, tbe effect of planting potatoes at 

 different distances, and date of planting tests, made at the gardens of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society in Surrey County, England, are described. 



The Abundance and Great Scot types of potatoes are said to have exhibited 

 marked resistance to wart disease. 



Although cutting the seed tubers resulted in a reduced yield per plant a much 

 greater return was secured from a given weighl "f seed, and the practice is 

 deemed expedient where seed is scarce or expensive. Gypsum gave the best re 

 suits in checking the loss of moisture from the cut surfaces of seed tubers. 



