1917] FIELD CEOPS. 827 



Grasses for pasture and h.ay in Texas, G. M. Gabeen {Texas Agr. Col. Ext. 

 Serv. Bui. B-32 (1916), pp. 16, figs. 4). — A popular discussion of suitable hay 

 and pasture grasses for Texas, with general recommendations for the estab- 

 lishment of meadows and pastures. 



The selection of cereals in Italy, G. Patan6 {Internat. Inst. Agr. [RoTne}, 

 Internat. Rev. Sci. and Pract. Agr., 7 (1916), No. 6, pp. 777-787; abs. in Jour. 

 Heredity, 8 (1917), No. 3, p. 105). — Systematic plant breeding, principally with 

 cereals, is being conducted at 10 centers in Italy, and the work, modeled after 

 that of the Svalof station, is reviewed in this article. Selection and hybridiza- 

 tion form the principal features of the investigations, and include studies with 

 wheat, rice, barley, oats, corn, rye, pulses, potatoes, pumpkins, tomatoes, alfalfa, 

 and other crops. 



A study of cleistogamy and parthenogenesis from the standpoint of genetics, 

 especially with the Cruciferae and Leguminosse, is being made by U. Brizi at 

 the Royal Agricultural College, at Milan. Cereals and Leguminosre are also 

 being bred on Mendelian lines. 



The influence of chemical fertilizers upon the composition of the cereals 

 (Agr. Mod. [Milan], 22 (1916), No. 24, pp. 284, 285).— This reports analyses of 

 grain grown on different soil types in France and under varying fertilizer treat- 

 ments to determine the effect of the fertilizer upon the composition of the grain. 

 The fertilizers used were acid phosphate, sodium nitrate, muriate of potash, and 

 manure. 



In every case the weight of the grain was materially higher with the fertilizer 

 treatment. A complete chemical fertilizer in each case resulted in a higher per- 

 centage of protein in the grain than on the untreated plat or the plats receiving 

 only partial fertilization. Manure alone showed a slight increase in the protein 

 content, except with corn, which showed a slight reduction. With manure sup- 

 plemented by chemical fertilizers slightly increased percentages of protein 

 were obtained. The percentage of phosphoric acid in the grain was increased 

 under all fertilizer and manurial treatments. See also a previous note by 

 Tretiakov (E. S. R., 34, p. 230). 



Statistics on the production of cereals and legrumes, 1916 (Estadistica de 

 la Produccidn de Cereales y Leguminosas en el ano 1916. Madrid: Govt., 1916, 

 pp. S2). — Statistics are given on the acreage and production of wheat, barley, 

 rye, oata, corn, chick-peas, vetch, field peas, beans, and other less important 

 cereals and legumes in Spain for 1916. Brief observations are reported on the 

 influence of meteorological conditions upon the cultivation and harvesting of 

 cereals and legumes in each of 13 regions. 



Growth, of the root system of Medicago sativa, Shistovskij (luzh. Ruts. 

 Selsk. Khoz. Gaz., 17 (1915), No. SO, pp. 6, 7; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Roniel, 

 Internat. Rev. Sci. and Pract. Agr., 7 (1916), No. 8, pp. 1088, 1089). — Observa- 

 tions are reported on the development of the root system of M. sativa at differ- 

 ent stages of growth. 



The alfalfa was sown in Rotmistrov boxes in the open field and the roots ex- 

 amined by washing with water at the ages of 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, and 4 months. 

 The results of these observations are reported in tabular form. The data in- 

 clude the length in centimeters of the aerial portion and roots and the hori- 

 zontal extension of the roots, together with the root coeflicient, which is the 

 product of the length and the horizontal extension of the root. 



The results indicate that the growth of the root system continues uninter- 

 ruptedly from germination to fructification, but that growth is not uniform. 

 At the age of 2.5 months the roots had attained a length of from 45 to 51 centi- 



