FIELD CROPS. 631 



were secured. Pseudomonas calcis, a new spirillum, and a new bacterium 

 were isolated from the sea water, and closely similar varieties of species of 

 Spirillum and Pseudomonas were found in water from the Great Salt Lake. 

 Both in sea water and in the water of the Great Salt Lake these bacteria 

 were found associated with the precipitation of calcium carbonate. 



Bacteria of the colon type occurring on grains, L. A. Rogers, W. M. Clark, 

 and A1.1CE C. Evans {Jour. Infect. Diseases, 11 (1915), No. 1, pp. 137-159, figs. 

 •5; abs. in Science, n. scr., 41 (1915), No. 1060, p. 624).— A study was made of 

 fjas production by 166 colon-like cultures from grains which showed that under 

 controlled conditions these organisms could be divided into three physiological 

 groups, cultures giving a low volume composed of carbon dioxid only, those 

 giviug a low volume and a carbon diosid-hydrogen ratio of 1.06, and those 

 having a high volume and a ratio varying from 1.9 to 2.9. 



Two other groups differing in their gas ratio and fermentation reaction were 

 made, but they included a relatively small number of cultures. 



Chondriosomes and their significance, F. Cavers (New Phytol., 13 (1914), 

 Nos. 3, pp. 96-106; 4-5, pp. 170-180).— The author gives a bibliographical 

 review, from which it is evident that there is still difficulty in reaching safe 

 conclusions regarding the nature of the so-called chondriosomes. The evi- 

 dence as to the existence of true chromidia in plants is considered still some- 

 what scanty and unconvincing. It is admitted that thus far the study of 

 chrondriosomes has definitely solved few if any of the numerous questions 

 it has raised, and that it still remains to be shown whether chondriosomes 

 are really cell organs which, like the nucleus, persist from generation to gener- 

 ation with certain definite functions, or are merely artifacts. ^ 



FIELD CROPS. 



[Report of the] department of agronomy, C. S. Knight (Nevada Sta. Rpt. 

 1914, PP- 30-33). — The results of experiments in testing different dates for 

 planting sugar beets showed the period from April 20 to May 20 to be the most 

 propitious. When planted on dates later than June 1 the yields decreased from 

 12.54 to 4.74 tons per acre. In variety tests with potatoes the yields ranged 

 fi'om 2.67 to 9.81 tons of marketable tubers per acre. The results favored home- 

 grown seed. 



In variety tests with mangels the yields ranged from 18.5 to 27.8 tons per 

 acre, swedes from 20.6 to 26.5 tons, corn for silage 16,170 to 25,795 lbs., wheat 

 1,980 to 2,520 lbs., oats from 1,780 to 2,430 lbs., barley 2,200 to 2,250 lbs., irri- 

 gated Siberian oats from 46.4 to 61.45 bu. per acre, and irrigated White Aus- 

 tralian wheat 30.38 to 43.22 bu. 



The results of the irrigation experiment with oats " indicate that the greatest 

 production was received with two irrigations before and three after heading, 

 while the heaviest yield per acre-foot of water was obtained with one irriga- 

 tion before and one after heading. The yields per acre of oats of over 56 bu. 

 with one irrigation before and two or three after heading also indicate that the 

 oat crop can better withstand a slight shortage of water before than after head- 

 ing." 



The results of the irrigation experiment with wheat show that " the greatest 

 production was received with two irrigations before and two after heading. 

 The heaviest yield per acre-foot of water was obtained with one irrigation before 

 and one after heading." 



Report of [field crops] work at Fairbanks Station, J. W. Neal (Alaska 

 8tas. Rpt. 1914, pp. 44-4S, 48-51, 52-54, vis. 3). — The performance of several 



