334 BXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



The following average acre yields were obtained in a 5-year test of various 

 methods of seed treatment for smut: Thirty-eight bu. from untreated seed, 40.6 

 bu. from hot water treatment. 40.2 bu. from immersion in copper sulphate solu- 

 tion for 12 hours, 41.1 bu. from sprinkling with copper sulphate solution, 43.3 

 bu. from immersion in dilute formalin, and 36.3 bu. from sprinkling with 

 formalin. 



As a result of seed-selection tests made in each of 6 years, average annual 

 increases in yield are reported amounting to 6.8 bu. per acre for large over small 

 seed, 7.8 bu. for plump over shrunken seed, and 35.6 bu. for sound over broken 

 seed. 



In tests with spring wheat varieties for a 27-year period, 1891 to 1917, the 

 highest yields were obtained from Saxonka with 33.1 bu. per acre, Red Fife 

 with 32.1 bu., and Pringle Champion with 31.9 bu. Axnautka, Roumania, and 

 Wild Goose durum varieties have given average yields of 40.28, 39.38, and 38.9 

 bu. per acre, respectively, for a 5-year period, Seed selection tests employing 

 two different varieties were conducted over an S-year period, and resulted in 

 average yields of 21.7 bu. per acre for large plump seed, IS bu. for small plump 

 seed, and 16.7 bu. for shrunken seed. Date-of-seedlng tests conducted over a 5- 

 year period resulted in a maximum yield of 21.9 bu. per acre for the earlii si 

 seeding date. 



Tests with varieties of winter rye for a 14-year period resulted in an average 

 maximum yield of 55.8 bu. per acre for Mammoth White. Grown as a muse 

 crop with hairy vetch, winter rye proved to be superior to winter wheal or 

 winter enuner. Winter rye is said to have produced an annual average of 7.98 

 tons per acre of green forage In cooperative tests covering a period. 



O. A. C. No. 61 and Saatroggen with 10-year average yields of 30.1 and 29.6 

 bu. per acre, respectively, were highest in variety tests with spring rye. Large, 

 medium, small, and broken seed of spring rye have given average yields Of 26, 

 24.4, 22.3, and 16.9 bu. per acre, respectively. 



Variety tests with emmer and spelt hfl i conducted for 10 years, the 



highest yielding emmer variety being [own with 2,906 lbs. of grain per acre and 

 the highest yielding spelt variety l. Led with 2.120 lbs. Emmer is said to 



surpass spelt in freedom from rust, thinness of hull, weight of grain, and in 

 yield of both grain and straw, spelt being superior only in strength of straw. 

 Date-of-seeding tests with emmer and spelt for a 5-year period Indicated that 

 emmer could be successfully sown at a later date than spring wheat, while spelt 

 gave the best results from early seeding. 



The castor bean, A. E. Baktiii; {Rev. Apr. [Santo Domingo]. 18 {1917), $0. 

 9, pp. 231-257, figs. //). — This presents a detailed description of the castor bean 

 {Ricinus communis) and of its production, together with a discussion of the 

 industrial exploitation of the crop and its produd 



The production of the castor bean in North Africa. P. CotrsTOH ( La Culture 

 du h'irin dans VAfrique av Word. Vlgiere: Govt., 1918, pp. t5). — This pre--, 

 a brief account of the present status of castor-bean production, methods of cul- 

 tivation, adapted varieties, insect and disease pests, and the exploitation and 

 utilization of the crop in northern Africa. 



Storage of seed corn, F. A. Wbltoh {Mo. Bui. Ohio Sta., 3 {1918), No. 12. pp. 

 860-862). — Tests of eight different methods of storing seed corn covering a 

 period of five years. 1913-1917, inclusive, are descrll ed and tabulated data 

 presented showing the percentage of germination and the yield secured with 

 each method and for each year of the test. 



The best average germination, 97. 53 per cent, and the highest average yield. 

 75.06 bu. per acre, were obtained from seed hung up in the furnace room, and 

 the lowest germination, 89.4 per cent, and yield, 71.02 bu., from seed stored 



