138 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



was probably because the vines were rather poorly plowed under and left this 

 sandy, loose soil in a condition too loose and open for the best growth of wheat." 



Fertilizer experiments have showed that nitrogen is of first importance, 

 phosphorus secondary, and that potash, though often useful, is less important 

 than the other two constituents. Equal amounts of nitrogen applied at planting 

 time proved to be of practically equal value for wheat whether in the form 

 of nitrate of soda, cotton-seed meal, or cotton seed ; but nitrate of soda when 

 ai)plied as a top-dressing in March proved much more effective than any other 

 fertilizer. 



Wheat and rye of east Siberia, W. A. Uglow {Ztschr. Gesam. Oetreideic, 6 

 (1914), No. 6, pp. 113-118). — This article discusses the production of wheat and 

 rye and their adaptation to the climatic conditions, and gives tables of analyses 

 of these cereals from the 1910-11 crops of Amur and Primorsk districts. 



On the loss in a stack of unthreshed corn, E. J. Russell (Jour. Bd. Agr. 

 [Loiidoit], 21 (IDU), No. 4, pp. 300-.303).—T\ie inadvisability of holding wheat 

 unthreshed in the stack is shown in results obtained at Rothamsted. The loss, 

 due chiefly to mice, was 14.7 bu. per acre, or 53 per cent, in holding the stack 

 for 9^ months. In another case a loss of 6.8 bu. per acre, or 20 per cent, oc- 

 curred in a stack in 6 months. 



Grades of grain, C. Quinn {Toledo, Ohio [1914'\, PP- 16). — Commercial grades 

 of grain, comprising those of wheat, rye, oats, corn, milo maize, Kafir corn, and 

 barley, and the rule for using the testing kettle, are described. 



Observations on the eradication of weeds by the use of kainit, T. Remy 

 and J. Vasters {Landw. Jalirh., 46 (1914), No. 4, pp. 627-657, figs, o).— In this 

 paper are described 12 experiments in which several kinds of weeds growing 

 with cereals were treated, with varying amounts of kainit in different degrees 

 of fineness. 



The author concludes that kainit is a serviceable weed killer when used under 

 certain favorable conditions. The first requirement is the application of a 

 sufficient quantity, not less than 1,200 kg. per hectare (1.06S lbs. per acre), 

 and increasing with the age of the weed to a probable maximum application 

 of 2,000 kg. The application must be made on heavy dew or rain-dampened 

 plants, and the best results follow a dry day. Foggy or misty weather after 

 the application retards the action of the kainit and will make the results 

 doubtful. The action of kainit was especially favored by dry or slightly frozen 

 ground, which conditions seems to retard the flow of water to the plant to 

 relieve the plasmolytic action of the kainit. The use of finely ground kainit, 

 evenly distributed, greatly favored its action. The weeds must not be old, 

 and the younger the better were the results. 



All kinds of weeds were not equally acted upon by the kainit. Three groups 

 are noted: Sensitive, wild mustard, wild radish, wild buckwheat, chamomile, 

 nettle, groundsel, knapweed, speedwell, chickweed; medium sensitive, smart- 

 weed, spurry, tower cress ; and slightly sentitive orach, sow thistle, fumitory. 



A heavy application of kainit had an injurious effect upon the texture of the 

 soil surface except in the presence of calcium, although the potash in the kainit 

 served for remaining plants or future crops. Cereals were only temporarily 

 injured by the applications. Barley seemed the most easily affected, but soon 

 recovered even with an application of 2,500 kg. per hectare. 



The author discusses at some length the action of the various compounds of 

 the kainit in killing weeds. The caruallite was more effective than the syl- 

 vanite. 



The use of sodium arsenite for killing' weeds, J. W. Ince (No)-th Dakota 

 8ta. Spec. Bui., 3 (1914), No. 9, pp. 146, i^7).-— This article gives some results 

 of methods of preparing sodium arsenite and of preliminary experiments in 



