FIELD CROPS. 437 



An expression of first, second, and third choice by the cooperators indicated 

 that Boone County White was much the most popular. Commercial White and 

 Reid Yellow Dent being second and third in favor. 



Plantings of 2, 3, 4, and 5 stalks per hill at Columbia produced yields of 

 46?, 55f, Mr, and 55 bu. per acre respectively. The percentage of barren 

 stalks increased with the number of stalks per hill. Tables show the character- 

 istics of the varieties gi'own at Columbia in 1908, the height of stalk and ear, 

 general vigor, brace root development, droop of ear, weight of corn and stover 

 per acre, number of pounds of corn from 1 lb. of stover, and the average weight 

 of ears. Another table gives the shelling percentages for 190S-9 which range 

 from 77.4 to 89.1, Golden Eagle standing highest. St. Charles White and 

 Johnson County White averaged 58.12 and 50.58 bu. per acre respectively at 

 Columbia in 1908-9. 



How to grow 100 bushels of corn per acre on worn soil, W. C. Smith 

 (Delphi, hid., 1910, pp. Ill, pis. J,, figs. /2).— This book suggests methods for 

 restoring worn-out soils. It is written with special reference to vetch, alfalfa, 

 corn, and sweet corn. 



Experiments in cotton growing, A. Borzi (Bol. R. Orto Bot. Palermo, 8 

 (1909), No. //, pp. 111-188). — The results of cultui-al tests of a number of vari- 

 eties of cotton are given. Crosses of Abassy, Biancaville, Caravonica, Mitafifi, 

 and Noubary cottons are reported. 



A study of oat yields, T. F. Hunt (Proc. Soc. Prom. Agr. Sci., 30 (1909), 

 pp. llS-12.'i). — The average yields of oats in Pennsylvania for 5-year periods 

 for the 25 years ended with 1906 were 28.2, 24.6, 27.4, 20.9, and 32.1 bu. per 

 acre respectively. The estimated yields for the United States closely paralleled 

 these variations, showing that estimated yields during the last 5-year period were 

 greater than for any of the previous periods. Variety tests have been conducted 

 at the Pe'iusylvania Station for 19 years and the a\'erage yield of all varieties 

 was also greater the last 5 years than for any former period. The increase is 

 relatively greater than in the case of wheat varieties, but less than in case of 

 potatoes. It is uncertain to what extent the introduction of improved varieties 

 is responsible for this increase. 



Studies of the fertilizer experiments at the same station show that during 

 the 25 years ended with 1906 the decrease in yield of oats is much greater than 

 that of corn, wheat, or hay, the yield being about two-thirds of what might be 

 expected from the results with the other crops. The experiments were con- 

 ducted on plats receiving no treatment, plats receiving 48 lbs. of phosphoric 

 acid and 100 lbs. of potash per aci*e, and plats receiving the same fertilizers 

 and 24 lbs. of nitrogen in addition. Considering the total value of the 4 crops 

 raised on these same plats in a given year as 100, it is found that on the un- 

 treated plats oats fell from 21.9 during the first period to 17.6 during the last 

 period; on the plats treated with phosphoric acid and potash from 21.631 to 

 15.6; and on the third series of plats from 20.6 to 14.1. 



The composition of oats and its variations, J. Hendrick (Trans. Highland 

 and Agr. Soc. Scot., 5. ser., 22 (1910), pp. 16-21). — These pages present many 

 chemical analyses comparing newly introduced and new pedigree varieties of 

 oats with the old Scotch varieties. 



The principal points of comparison are the proportion of husk to kernel, 

 the composition of the kernel or the oatmeal yielded by the grain, and the 

 composition of the straw. In 1901, grain of the old varieties contained 0.14 

 per cent more of water, 2.37 per cent more of dry kernel, 1.78 per cent more of 

 oil, and 0.47 per cent more of albuminoids. Of 22 varieties, Sandy and lieii 

 oats were the thinnest hulled, while Storm King was the thickest, as indi- 

 cated by tests during the 2 successive 2-year periods, 1901-1904. During these 



