FIELD CROPS. 435 



from 35 to 45 lbs. per acre, winter oats 6 pks. per acre, and spring oats from 



4 to 5 pks. per acre, varying inversely with the dryness of the locality. About 3 

 in. is the most desirable depth of planting wheat if the seed bed is well prepared. 

 If wheat is the only crop grown, alternate fallowing should be practiced, but 

 potatoes or possibly corn may probably be substituted for fallow. 



Sand lucern, Turkestan, and Utah alfalfa are being tested. From 62.5 to 

 3C0 lbs. of brome grass seed per acre have been obtained. Minnesota Amber 

 and Red Amber sorghums in 1909 yielded 2,490 and 2,840 lbs. of dry matter 

 per acre respectively, but Canada field peas have not yet produced a profitable 

 yield and corn is not a dependable crop. In 1908, 12 varieties of potatoes 

 averaged 100.4 bu. per acre. White Peerless and Irish Cobbler proved most 

 desirable and yielded 98 and 112 bu. per acre respectively in 1909, during which 

 year the average value of the varieties tested was about $22 per acre. Planting 



5 in. deep in hills 2 ft. apart with rows 3 ft. apart proved most desirable. The 

 average cost per acre of wheat production on dry lands as reported by 4 

 farmers was $5.59 per acre, the average yield reported 26.65 bu. 



Sugg-estions to settlers on the sandy soils of the Columbia River Valley, 

 B. Hunter and S. O. Jayne (V. S. Dcpt. Agv.. Bur. Plant Indium. Circ. GO, pp. 

 23, figs. 2). — This circular describes the region lying between Dalles, Oreg.. 

 and Priest Rapids. Wash., discusses its climatic and irrigation problems, and 

 gives directions for clearing the land and raising alfalfa, fruits, truck crops, 

 and i)0ultry. 



Experiments with windbreaks, N. Esbjerg (Ber. Ribe Amis Landbofor. 

 Havchr. og Husinands., 1909, pp. 3-21). — Experiments were conducted during the 

 season of 1909 with artificial windbreaks made of screens 160 to 200 ft. long 

 by 4 ft. in height and with others from 7 to 8 ft. in height. They were placed 

 toward the west and north, or on the north and south only, in the middle of 

 the plats. To avoid shading the crops the screens were placed about 6 ft. 

 from the outside plats. 



Every test showed a positive benefit, although variations presumably due to 

 a lack of uniformity of the soil on different plats occurred. Severe storms 

 made the conditions favorable for the conduct of the experiments in the earlier 

 part of the growing season. Trials with winter rye showed increases in the 

 yield of grain varying from 16.2 to 31.4 per cent and of straw varying from 0.4 

 to 22.7 per cent, as an apparent result of the protection offered by the wind- 

 breaks. The root yields of ruta-bagas were increased from 6.6 to 17.1 per cent 

 in the various trials and the top yields from 4.5 to 63.6 per cent. Mangels 

 showed increased yields of 3.5 per cent in tops and 18.1 per cent in roots. 

 Three trials with clovers and grasses showed gains of from 4.4 to 22.8 per cent 

 in yield. 



The author outlines experiments for the further study of natural wind-breaks 

 of spruce, willow, elder, and other woods, and discusses numerous questions 

 relating to wind-breaks. 



The culture and storage of root crops, E. J. Delwiche {Wisconsin 8ta. Circ. 

 Inform. 16. pp. I'l, figs. //). — This bulletin discusses the advantages of root crops 

 and gives directions for planting, thinning, cultivating, harvesting, and storing 

 them. Other topics treated are cost of production and special methods for 

 heavy clay soils. 



Plants with edible tubers, H. Jumelle {Les Plantes a Tubercules Alimcn- 

 taires. Paris. 1910, pp. XIII+372+XII, figs. 35).— This work discusses the 

 various methods by which tubers are formed and states the different classifica- 

 tions of root crops proposed on the basis of the character of the starch grains 

 present. The general botanical and economic characters of each group of 

 plants producing edible tubers are stated, and the cultural requirements and 



