526 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



foliage characteristics, inflorescences and floral characters, and upon " seeds " ; 

 and a botanical description of species. The agricultural section gives chapters 

 on the agricultural value and characteristics of 21 species of grasses sown on 

 the farm, the valuation and purchase of grass seeds, the specification and com- 

 pounding of grass-seed mixtures, and the general treatment of grassland and 

 the effects of various fertilizers upon the different species. A list of 31 species 

 of local, rare, or introduced foreign grasses not otherwise described and a 

 bibliography of 35 titles are appended. 



Alfalfa, L. F. Guaber (Madison, Wis.: Author, 1918, pp. 76. figs. 60). — A hand- 

 book on alfalfa growing designed primarily for the farmer and student. It is 

 based largely upon information obtained by the author from over 3,000 reports 

 of successes and failures with alfalfa from members of the Alfalfa Order of 

 the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Association, and upon the results 

 obtained from more than 600 experimental plats of various strains and varieties 

 of alfalfa grown under widely varying conditions and methods at the Wisconsin 

 Experiment Station. 



[Castor beans in Rhodesia]. J. A. T. Waiters {Rhodesia Munitions and Re- 

 sources Com. Rpt. 1918, pp. 70-78). The castor bean is regarded as indigenous 

 to Southern Rhodesia, ami Isolated specimens growing without cultivation have 

 given high yields and bare proved to be resistant t-> Insect attack. Winn 

 grown under cultivation, however, the yield of seed has been considerably 

 lowered and susceptibility to insect attack materially Increased. 



[Red clover experiments in Holland, 1915 to 19171. 11. If. (Jmetin (Ctti- 

 tura, -10 (WIS), \,,. .<:,',. pp. 61-70).- This is a detailed report of experiments 

 made with selected strains of red clover "ti several experiment farms. Tabu 

 lated data are presented showing tin- yields of the different sorts, giving their 

 green and dry weights. 



Maize culture, II. Wimioiz. O. P, I >\i;\ki.i -Smith, and W. IV (Iirnky {Dept. 

 Agr. .V. 8. Wales, Farmers' But, (16 [1918), pp. 1,2. fins. 23).— A detailed de- 

 scription of the field practices and cultural methods employed in growing the 

 crop in New South Wales, together with notes on the diseases and insect 

 enemies of corn found in the region. 



Selection of disease-free seed corn. G. N. BoiTO and J. R. IIoiufht [Indiana 

 8ta. lint. 22', {1918), pp. IB, figs. -'/>. as a result of work done in cooperation 

 with the Office of Cereal Investigaions of the U. S. Department of agriculture, 

 it is stated that the same organism which causes scab in wheat also appears to 

 produce rot of the stalks, ears, and ear-shanks of corn. The use of infected 

 was found to result in missing hills, slow-growing stalks, barren stalks, down 

 stalks, nuhbins, and early blighting of plants in the field. The use of the ear- 

 to-row method for studying the quality and value of seed ears Is recommended, 

 and the selection of seed ears from disease free stalks is explained. Careful 

 observation of germinating seedlings Is said to reveal the presence of Infected 

 seed ears, and a type of germlnator deemed best for this method of testing is 

 described and illustrated. 



Cotton. 0. C. Sunk. O. EL BAXXB et ai.. (U. S. Dcpt. Agr.. Atlas Ainrr. Apr., 

 pt. 5, Sect. A, 1918, pp. 28. fins. 10',).-- This number of the atlas Comprises a did 

 CUSSlOU of the principal commercial types of cotton; the geography, economics. 

 methods, and history of cotton production; and marketing and distribution, 

 supplemented by numerous maps and charts. A selected list of publications 

 relating to the various phases of the subject is included. 



The quest of the long staple cotton. W. I. Uiilard {Cambridge, U<7.*.«. .- 

 I'niv. Press. 1917, pp. St. pi. 1). — This presents a brief historical and descriptive 

 account of long staple types of cotton, including Egyptian, Sea Island, and 



