FIELD CROPS. 229 



The peas and beans of Burma, E. Thompstone and A. M. Sawyer (Dept. 

 Agr. Burma Bui. 12 (1914), PP- 107). — This bulletin gives the results of an ex- 

 tended survey of the peas and beans of Burma covering almost four years, 

 during vi^hich period several hundred samples of beans were examined. Aside 

 from the botanical names and descriptions, the locality and local names of the 

 plants are given. The genera studied include Cajanus, Canavalia, Cicer, Cro- 

 talaria, Cyamopsis, Dolichos, Glycine. Lathyrus, Lens, Mucuna, Pachyrhizus, 

 Phaseolus. Pisum, Psophocarpus, Sesbania. Vicia, and Vigna. 



Soy beans and cowpeas, T. A. Kiesselbach (Nebraska Sta. Bui. 150 (1915), 

 pp. 31, figs. 7). — This bulletin discusses the value of soy beans and cowpeas for 

 Nebraska farmers, and gives general directions for their production as hay, 

 grain, and silage crops and results of tests covering periods of varying lengths. 

 The average yields of eight varieties of soy beans from 1909 to 1914 ranged 

 from 13.39 to 15.87 bu. per acre for the different varieties. The average yields 

 for all varieties for the different years ranged from 6.11 to 22.84 bu. per acre. 

 A summary shows the comparative yields of corn, wheat, oats, and Haberlandt 

 soy beans at the station to have been 42, 36.5, 49.5, and 16 bu. as a 6-year 

 average. 



Inoculating soy beans at the station, either by the culture or soil method, 

 failed to increase the yield materially. The average yield of the four earliest 

 varieties tested was 1 bu. more per acre when the rows were 28 in. apart than 

 when 35 In., but these results were reversed for the four latest maturing 

 varieties. 



Soy beans in cooperative farmers' tests showed unsatisfactory results in 

 general. 



Soil physics and soil moisture in relation to first year's growth of alfalfa, 

 L. R. McNeely and G. W. Kable {Neio Mexico Sta. Bui. 93 (1915), pp. ^2, figs. 

 18). — This gives the results as regards the growth of alfalfa in 1914 of various 

 soil moisture and cultural conditions. Four classes of soils were used, viz, 

 (1) 6 ft. or more of sandy loam, (2) 4 to 5 ft. of sandy loam over gi-avel, 

 (3) 2 to 4 ft. of sandy loam over gravel, and (4) 2 ft. of sandy loam over 

 gravel. Methods of surface treatment consisted in drilling alfalfa, planting in 

 rows 80 in. apart, and fallowing. Irrigation treatments consisted in applyiug 

 water in 2, 3, 4, and 5 in. depths at each application in such a way as to maintain 

 about a 7 per cent moisture content. 



The yields on the different classes of soil differed only slightly, ranging from 

 4.401 to 4,882 lbs. per acre mider similar treatment. It was found that the 

 deepest soils required the least water, 972, 1,051, 1,279. and 1,450 lbs. of water 

 being required to make a pound of hay on the respective soil classes. It is 

 stated that nearly the same amount of water was necessary to keep the soil 

 moist where there was no crop as was used on the plats that were covered with 

 plants, and that where the alfalfa grew in rows 30 in. apart more water was re- 

 quired than in either of the other cases. 



The plats that were covered to a depth of 5 in. at each ii-rigatiou required 

 an average of nearly 30 in. of water during the season ; tho.se covered to a depth 

 of 2 in. required only 19 in., although the latter were irrigated a greater num- 

 ber of times than the former. The number of pounds of water required per 

 pound of hay produced for different depths of irrigations were for 2 in., 1,026 

 lbs. ; 3 in., 1,168 lbs. ; 4 in., 1.180 lbs. ; and 5 in., 1,377 lbs. 



The number of pounds of water required to produce a pound of hay for dif- 

 ferent total depths of water during the season were found to be for 16.75 in.. 

 1,023 lbs. ; 23.08 in., 1,105 lbs, ; 26.53 in.. 1,235 lbs. ; and 34.46 in., 1,613 lbs. For 

 the different depths of irrigation, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in., the yields per acre and the 

 yields per acre-inch of water were, respectively, 4,363 lbs., 235.8 lbs. ; 4,559.9, 



