736 EXPERIMENT STATION KECOHD. 



Cowpea culture, O. O. Chukchill (Okhihoma Hta. liul. 105 (191.'f}, pp. 3-22, 

 figs. H). — This bulletin describes inetbods of production suitaljle to Oklahoma 

 conditions and reports results of variety tests for the years 1911, liJ12, and 1913. 

 in whicli the yields of grain ranged from to 10.14 bu. per acre. Notes give 

 characteristics of several varieties dui'ing the growing ])eri(jd of 1913. It is 

 stated that the Spec-kled Crovvder. Whippoorwill, and New lOra varieties are 

 considered the best for general jjurposes in Oklahoma. 



Kaoliang, a new dry land crop, A. N. Hume and M. Ciiamplin (South Da- 

 kota 8ta. Bill. 136 (VJlJf), pp. 115-127, fiys. 5). — A brief history and description 

 of the r)lnnt is given. Results of tests show that at " Highmore the average 

 yield for the five years from ]1K)9 to 1913. inclusive, has l)een lO.ij bu. of S. D. 

 289 and 13.8 bu. of S. D. 290. The highest yield of S. D. 289 was 19.2 bu., in 

 1910, and the lowest was 10.3 bu., in 1911. The average yield of Minue.sota 

 No. 13 yellow dent corn for tliis same jjeriod is 12.6 bu.. showing that the 

 climatic conditions were decidedly severe. At Cottonwood in 1912 kaoliang 

 yielded an average of 23.7 bu. per acre as compared with 22.5 bu. per acre for 

 Minne.sota No. 13 corn. In 1913 the season was so severe at Cottonwood that 

 both kaoliang and corn failed to produce grain, but the kaoliang produced 440 

 lbs. of dry fodder per acre to 260 lbs. for the corn. In another test kaoliang 

 yielded 2 bu. of grain and 766 lbs. of dry fodder, whereas corn yielded no 

 grain and 687 lbs. of fodder, thus proving its value in an extremely severe 

 season." 



Methods of production suited to South Dakota conditions are described. 



Variation and correlation of oats (Avena sativa). — I, Studies showing 

 the effect of seasonal changes on bionietrical constants, H. H. Love and C. E. 

 Leighty {Sew York CorueU Sta. Mem. 3 (1914). pp. 70, figs. 6l.— This bulletin 

 describes in detail and gives the results of studies carried out by the station 

 in cooperation with this Department to discover what characters, if any. may 

 be used as a basis for selection and the status of correlation of characters of 

 the oat plant. The variety Sixty Day was used. 



Data were gathered during 1908 to 1912, inclusive, and indicate, in regard to 

 the relation of the correlation factors and oat production, that " the growth 

 factors influence the developing plants in such a way that tall plants and 

 high yield of grain are found together. ... It is also interesting and im- 

 portant to note that as the plants tend to increase in height, the number of 

 culms also increases. At the same time it is shown also that the average yield 

 per culm increases as the height of plant increases. This shows the possi- 

 bility of obtaining plants with many culms that may be high in production, 

 which is rather important, since it is sometimes thought th;it the average yield 

 of culm would tend to decrease as the number of culms on the plant inci'eased. 



"Another important fact brought out by this study is the relation between 

 average weight of kernels and height of plant, and average weight of Icernels 

 and total yield. This has an important bearing on the practice of seeding 

 oats. . . . One of the writers has sown hand-picked seed of a number of 

 varieties of oats, and found that in every case the larger yield was obtained 

 from the heavy seed. In another test with oats, in which large and small 

 kernels from the same head were compared, the large seed gave a greater 

 yield." 



From the data presented the following conclusions have been drawn : 



" Environmental conditions such as exist in different years cause changes in 

 the means. Conditions that genei-ally result in reduction of plant yield also 

 result in reduction of height, number of kernels, and number of culms, but in 

 increase in size ot kernels. Yield is reduced by decrease in number of kernels 



