430 EXPERIMENT STATION KECORD. 



Parsons on dry farming, E. K. Parsons (Aberdeen, 8. Dale, 1913, pp. 188, 

 pis. 10, figs. 3). — About half of ILis book is clovoted to soil conditions and to 

 methods to be employeil in the dry f:i rilling section, while the remainder treats 

 of field and garden crojis best suited to seiniarid regions, with a chapter each 

 (m fruits and forestry. 



Handbook of breeding' of agricultural plants, C. Fruwiuth (Ildndhiich der 

 landirirtschaftUchcn Pflanzensuchtung. Berlin, 191Ji, "vol. 1, /f. rev. ed., pp. 

 XXIFI-\-JiJi2, pl>i. 8, figs. SG).— An enlarged and revised edition of the volume 

 [)reviously noted (E. S. R., 21, p. 543). 



The work of the Belle Fourche reclamation project experiment farm in 

 1913, P.. AuNE (f/. 8. Dcpt. Af/r., Bur. Plant Indus., Work Belle Fourche E.rpt. 

 Farm, 1913, pp. 1-7, 9-15, 17, figs. 2). — This reimrts the continuation of the 

 work in South Dakota previously noted (E. S. R., 20, p. 31), and gives me- 

 teorological operations, and results of rotations with alfalfa, sugar beets, 

 clover, flax, oats, wheat, barley, corn, and potatoes, as well as of continuous 

 crop])ing with each. It is stated that 32 different cropping systems are being 

 tested, some of which are under irrigation. 



It is noted that late irrigation appeared to prevent flax from ripening evenly, 

 and it starts new branches from the lower joints. In experiments on the rates 

 of seeding alfalfa, 14 different rates ranging from 2.5 to 25 lbs. per acre, it 

 was found that the percentage of seed-producing plants ranged respectively 

 from IS to 3. In regard to the time and methods of seeding alfalfa " the early- 

 seeded alfalfa yielded somewhat more than that seeded late. Assuming that 

 the price of wheat hay is the same as that of alfalfa hay, about $5 a ton, 

 planting with a nurse crop and harvesting the wheat as hay gave larger returns 

 per acre than planting the alfalfa alone. When the cost of harvesting and 

 thrashing the wheat for grain is considered, it is seen that this method is less 

 profitable than either of the two methods previously mentioned, for the yield 

 of 28.2 bu. per acre is little more than sufficient to pay the cost of production 

 on irrigated land. The returns for the row plantings were the smallest ob- 

 tained in the experiment. It should be remembei'ed that these statements 

 fipply to the first year's results only." 



One year's results in the use of flax as a nurse crop for alfalfa showed that 

 " considering the cost of culture during the year, the net value of the crop 

 obtained where flax was used as a nurse crop was slightly higher than that 

 of the alfalfa planted alone." 



Yields of alfalfa indicated no important effect of late-fall or early-spring 

 irrigation. Fall irrigation for flax culture showed no advantage in point of 

 yield. 



In timc-of-plowiug experiments for oats, it was found that it was not a de- 

 sirable practice to plant oats on land during the same spring in which the land 

 was plowed. 



A variety test with corn, a cultural test with mangels, and the beginning of 

 trials of different pasture-grass mixtures are mentioned. 



The result of the first year's test in soil dynamiting on yield of oats gave 

 18.4 bu. per acre on the dynamited plat and 25.9 and 24.1 bu. on check plats on 

 either side. 



Forage crops, T. S. Parsons {Wyoming Sta. Bui. lOJf (19U), pp. 11-22. figs. 

 3). — This bulletin gives cultural methods for legumes, grasses, and miscella- 

 neous forage crops, and from trials ranging up to four years concludes that 

 " peas and oats give the best results under all conditions for either hay or 

 silage. Barley, rye, emmer, or oats may be sown to advantage with peas. For 

 late sowing, barley is best Six to eight tons of peas and oats in the green 



