FIELD CROPS. 631 



The author thinks that this is the tyvu-.xl fiingna present in moldy silage 

 which is reported to have killed horses, but its pathological properties have not 

 as yet been determined. 



On the chemistry of the hig'her fungi.— Ill, The fungus diastases, .T. Zbll- 

 NER {Sit-bcr. K. Akad. Wiss. WieiDia], Math. Xaturw. Kl., 118 (1909), lib. No. 

 1-2, pp. 3-lS; abs. in Bot. VcntbL, 113 (WIO), No. It, pp. 281, 282).— This is a 

 continuation of the study (E. S. R., 19, p. 1027) on the chemistry of the higher 

 fungi, with special reference to the presence of fungus diastases and their 

 action on various carbohydrates. 



In experiments with decoctions of dried fungus tissues, more than 19 species 

 of wood-inhabiting parasitic and saprophytic fungi were found to contain active 

 amylolytic enzyms which weak solutions of inorganic acids and bases easily 

 rendered inactive, but dilute organic acids accelerated the diastatic processes. 

 This diastatic action occurs at temperatures between 40 and 60° C, 50° being 

 the optimum, while at 70° enzymatic action ceases. Compared to the diastatic 

 power of barley malt, these fungus enzyms are very weak. The products of the 

 enzymatic processes are nearest to the dextrin group, consisting mainly of 

 glucose, but no maltose was found. Other carbohydrates, such as inuliu and 

 arabin, were not acted upon. 



FIELD CROPS. 



David Dickson's and James M. Smith's Farming, edited by G. F. Hunnicutt 

 i Atlanta, Ga., 1910, rev., pp. 255, pi. 1, figs. 25). — Discussions and information of 

 a practical nature are given on a wide variety of farm subjects. 



Dry farming in West Texas (Houston, Tex. [1910], pp. 45, figs. 22, map 1). — 

 This publication presents a number of articles of value to the dry-land farmer. 

 Part of them are from the publications of experiment stations and of this 

 Department, while others are from various periodicals. 



[Results of field crops' experiments at the Alaska Stations], C. C. George- 

 son ET AL. (Alaska Stas. Rpt. 1909, pp. l-hl^, 17-19, 20-22, 39, -iO, .'t2-/,9, 51-62, 

 pis. 5). — At the Rampart Station, 55 varieties of cereals including winter varie- 

 ties of wheat and rye and spring varieties of wheat, oats, barley, rye, and emmer 

 matured during the past summer. Ghirka, G. I. No. 1517, Romanow, and Wild 

 Goose spring wheats and 2 varieties of buckwheat failed to mature, but Red 

 Fife from Brandon, Manitoba, produced a crop before killed by frost. Pamir 

 barley, S. P. I. No. 18922, and Yakutsk, G. I. No. 574, proved the earliest varieties 

 grown, maturing in 87 and 88 days respectively, while the Yakutsk oat, G. I. No. 

 498, matured in 89 days. Manshury proved one of the best barleys. Chittyua, 

 a barley of unknown origin, averaged 45 in. in height and unites most of the 

 qualities desirable in Alaska. 



At the Fairbanks Station, the Romanow and a velvet chaff winter wheat 

 matured. When sufficiently protected by snow, winter wheat appeared more 

 likely than spring wheat to succeed in the interior. Winter rye, S. P. I. No. 

 19550, matured perfectly, but S. P. I. No. 112G8 completely winterkilled, while 

 Tennessee winter biirley, G. I. No. 386, was partially successful. Pedigree seeds 

 of barley and oats were almost entirely lost through early frosts. Although red, 

 white, and alsike clovers were completely winterkilled at Rampart, alsike 

 survived at Fairbanks. Thirty acres of Rauner oats grown for seed and com- 

 mercial feed oats for hny matured. 



Notes are given on the growth made by turnips, mangels, barley, oats, and 

 a considerable number of vegetables at the Sitka Station. In a test of 15 vari- 

 eties of potatoes, Gold Coin, Extra Early Ohio, and Extra Early Triumph gave 



