FIELD CROPS. 331 



It is noted that by far the strongest growth of 2-months old plants was made 

 by Lolium perenne, L. italicum, and Fcstuca pratensis. Two-month-old plants 

 ranged in individual weight from 0.024 gm. (Cynosurus cristatus) to 0.837 

 (L. italicum) for tops, and from 0.0035 gm. (Poa pratensis) to 0.2S2 gm. 

 (L. italicum) for roots. The length of roots of the various plants ranged 

 from 0.3 cm. with P. pratensis to 31 cm. with L. perenne. The largest root 

 quantity was shown by L. perenne, L. italicum, F. pratensis, Avena elatior, and 

 Dactylis glomerata. 



Three cuttings were made during this first season. It is noted that in general 

 with the strong-rooted varieties the root growth increased with the number of 

 cuttings, but with the weak-rooted varieties, as the Poas, the root mass was 

 reduced when the cutting.s increased. 



The range of ratios of tops to roots computed from yields of three cuttings 

 (July 20, September 14, and November 7) from a series that had been planted 

 on June 13, is shown to be from 1.25 : 1 with F. ovina to 4.75 : 1 with Phlcum 

 pratense. In another series planted June 26 similar ratios ran from 1.37 with 

 D. glomerata to 5.23 with P. pratense. The observed characteristics and phe- 

 nomena, including the relations of root growth to top growth as influenced by 

 the number of cuttings, the nitrogen content as influenced by the various nitro- 

 gen applications, and the character of the root systems of the different varieties 

 including color and physiological relations, are discussed. 



The grasses are finally arranged in the following four groups according to 

 their productive ability: "(a) L. perenne, L. italicum, F. pratensis, A. elatior; 

 (b) D. glomerata, P. pratense, Alopecurus; (c) Poa triviaUs, Agrostis stoloni- 

 fera, Cyuosurus; (d) F. ovina, P. pratensis." Results of germination tests of 

 seeds of these varieties of grasses are also given and discussed to considerable 

 length. 



Accumulated fertility in grass land in consequence of phosphatic manur- 

 ing, W. SoMERViLLE (Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 21 {1914), No. 6, pp. 481-^92, 

 pi. 1). — In order to study the effect of applications of phosphatic manures 

 (notably basic slag) that have been made to grass land during the past 20 to 

 30 years, pots were filled with soil from the treated and untreated land in 

 several centers in England and oats, as a first crop, was grown. This article 

 describes this experiment and gives the results. 



Data show the treated soil from four centers to have given an increase in total 

 yield of 153, 124, 31, and 15 per cent, respectively, over the untreated soils. The 

 amount of such improvement, it is noted, will depend on the amount of phos- 

 phate used, the time during which it has acted, and the inherent suitability of 

 the land to respond to phosphates. " While it would appear that the accumu- 

 lated fertility is partly due to phosphatic residues, it is certainly due in most 

 part to the secondary effects of the phosphates, of which the accumulation of 

 humus, including the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, is probably the most 

 important." 



Study of chemical composition of grasses and clovers at different ripening' 

 stages, K. Rordam (K. Danske Vidensk. Sclsk. Skr., Naturvidcnsk. og Math. 

 Aid., 7. ser., 10 {1913), No. h, pp. 363-426; ahs. in Zenthl. Agr. Chem., 43 {1914), 

 No. 8, pp. 530-534)- — A report is given of a study of the composition of Lolium 

 italicum. Arena elatior, Bromus arvensis, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca pratensis, 

 Trifolium rubrum, Lotus corniculata, and Anthyllis rulneraria, as hay har- 

 vested in early June and as threshed straw harvested in July and August. It 

 is noted that in general both grasses and clovers gave a higher percentage of 

 dry matter in the air-dried substance of their straw than of their hay. Dac- 

 tylis glomerata was the only exception. 



