532 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



lu summer fallow treatment it is noted that " it is of advantage to plow 

 summer fallow but once, that deep plowing gives better results than shallow 

 plowing, and that working or plowing the stubble land in the fall previous to 

 the summer fallow does not always result in increased yields." 



Notes are given on the first year's trials at Agassiz, British Columbia, with 

 nitrate of soda v. nitrate of lime for mangels, commercial fertilizer alone v. 

 commercial fertilizer together with barnyard manure, spring application v. 

 winter application of fresh manure, and winter application of manure (fresh) 

 r. spring ajjplication (stack). 



Summary of results [with] forage plants, 1913, M. O. Malte et al. (Can- 

 ada J'J.rpt. Farms Bid. IG (IDlJf), pp. 32). — This bulletin gives summarizetl re- 

 .sults of the more important experiments with forage crops conducted at the 

 several experimental farms during 1913. Brief notes are presented regarding 

 variety tests of turnips, mangels, carrots, com, and sugar beets, and prelimi- 

 nary work in breeding alfalfa, clovers, timothy, orchard grass, western rye 

 grass, and wild grasses, etc. 



[Effect of frost on forage and other plants], J. J. Thornbek (Arizona Sta. 

 Rpt. 1913, pp. 251-255). — This notes the serious injury to the native and culti- 

 vated forage and other plants caused by the unusually low temi>ei'ature of the 

 winter of 1912-13. 



[Alfalfa and wheat breeding experiments], G. F. Fbeeman and J. C. T. 

 Uphof (AHzona Bta. Rpt. 1913, pp. 257-261, 263-265).— This gives further 

 observations regarding investigations with alfalfa (E. S. R., 31, p. 629). It 

 is noted that the studies of 144 pure races of alfalfa " give promise of afford- 

 ing (a) pure races of alfalfa of the Peruvian type, which heretofore has shown 

 itself so productive in mass cultures; (b) improved strains of the rapidly 

 growing Mediterranean alfalfa for use in short rotations; and (c) strains 

 high in both leafiness and productivity, which will be of value to the dairy 

 industry." 



The points involved in a study to increase the water efficiency of alfalfa are 

 noted as being rapidity of growth, rate of transpiration per unit of surface 

 exposetl, ratio of transpiring surface to total dry matter produced, the dis- 

 tribution and length of root system, osmotic density of cell sap, ability of the 

 plant to become dormant in seasons of water famine. The study has thus far 

 shown that some strains will regularly mature a crop from five to seven days 

 earlier than others under the same conditions ; that certain strains or varieties 

 imder identical conditions I'egularly give off more water than others per unit 

 of green weight or of leaf surface exposed; that the percentage of leaves in 

 different pure races varies widely ; that the rate of growth does not depend 

 nix)n the amount of water transpired ; that there is usually a minus correla- 

 tion between yield and percentage of leaves ; and that varieties of alfalfa 

 differ markedly in their ability to become more or less dormant during sea- 

 sons of extreme heat or water famine. 



Breeding and selection work in progress with Algerian and domestic hard 

 wheat varieties is briefly described. Yields ranging from 21 to 67 bu. per acre 

 are recorded. 



Alfalfa in the Southwest, G. F. Freeman (Arizona Sta. Bid. 73 (191Jf), pp. 

 233-320, pis. 2, figs. 19). — This bulletin contains information gathered from 

 several sources upon the culture, harvesting, storage, uses, and enemies of 

 alfalfa, with special reference to Arizona conditions. 



The discussion includes acid and alkaline soils, methods of irrigation, the 

 alfalfa caterpillar, green alfalfa hopper, grasshoppers, harvester ant, varie- 

 gated cutworm, alfalfa weevil, brown root rot, leaf spot, rust, down.v mildew, 



