1919] FIELD CROPS. 631 



Sprouting seed tubers before planting Is said to have resulted la .in average In- 

 crease in yield for all varieties of 2 tons per acre. Sprouting in full light 

 showed only a slight advantage over sprouting in the dark. It is recommended 

 that two sprouts be left on each tuber. The use of 2 and 3 oz. tubers 

 for seed resulted in considerably higher yields than the use of 1 oz. tubers. 

 In the spacing tests the largest yields were obtained from the closest spacings. 

 Plantings made the latter part of April gave the best results. 



Five years' results with old and new varieties of potatoes, K. Vik (Aarsber. 

 Norges l.nmlhr. Hoiskoles Akervekstfursok, 28 (1916-11), pp. 33-64, Pte. 2). — 

 The results of cooperative tests in progress for five years are set forth In 

 tables and summarized. 



Of three new table varieties, Sagerud, Abundance, and HJelvik, Sagerud gave 

 the best results in yield of tubers and of dry matter, but was somewhat subject 

 to disease and, owing to lack in appearance of the tubers, did not prove to be 

 a good market variety. Abundance stood next to Sagerud In yield and showed 

 about the same table quality, but was found to be a more desirable market 

 variety on account of the better appearance of its tubers. Hjelvlk was observed 

 to be about like Abundance, with the exception that it is a medium late variety 

 while Abundance and Sagerud are medium early sorts. 



Among the older varieties Louis Botha led in productiveness, yielding nearly 

 as large a quantity of tubers as was secured from Sagerud but considerably 

 less dry matter. It is pointed out that the market value of a variety is based 

 largely on the yield, and that since the tubers of Louis Botha are of good form 

 and appearance and have good keeping quality the variety meets market re- 

 quirements to a very favorable extent. 



Marius, a variety giving good yields and having a high dry-matter content 

 and agreeable flavor, is recommended for home consumption. Skaun, Grahm, 

 and Up-to-date ranked In value a little behind the varieties mentioned, especially 

 in dry-matter content, but Grahm and Up-to-date, with satisfactory yields and 

 well formed clean tubers, were profitable market varieites. Of the limited 

 number of early varieties tested Dukker, the earliest, gave the largest yield 

 but New Matador excelled in appearance. 



In the test of varieties generally grown for factory purposes General Crouje and 

 Prof. Wohltniann ranked highest In productiveness, and these two varieties, to- 

 gether with Louis Botha, are also considered satisfactory for feeding purposes. 

 Rosenring, which produced the largest and most rot-resistant tubers and also 

 gave the largest yield, ranked under Louis Botha In the production of dry. 

 matter. 



The position of the flower stalk as a help in potato identification, E. A. 

 Kkantz (1'ututu Mag., 1 [1918), No. 6, p. 13, figs. S). — This paper, a contribution 

 from the Minnesota Experiment Station, brietly outlines differences observed in 

 the position of the flower stalk in the Green Mountain, Rural New Yorker, 

 Early Ohio, and other varieties which the author has found to be of value in 

 identifying potatoes in the field. He maintains that the position of the flower 

 stalk is a distinctive character which has not been made use of in descriptions 

 Of potato varieties. 



The inheritance of characters in rice, I, F. R. Parneix, G. N. Rangaswami 

 Ayyangar, and K. Ramiah (Mem. Dept. Agr. India, Bot. Set:, 9 (1917), No. 2, 

 pp. 75-106, pis. 7). — The authors report rather extensive observations begun in 

 1913 on tho inheritance of certain characters in rice. About 100 varieties 

 grown on the Government Farm at Coimbatore (India) were employed, a few 

 type plants of each variety, together with any variations found, being selected 

 and self -fertilized. 



