1917] FIELD CROPS. 339 



The best results were obtained from plantings made between April 10 and 

 20, with the planting rate varying from 4 to 7 lbs. per acre, depending upon 

 conditions. 



The composition of 5 varieties of durras, 3 of Kafir corn, 4 of kaoliang, and 

 1 of shallu grown in 1914 is reported in tubular form and compared with 

 similar analyses of corn and barley. It is concluded that grain sorghums fed 

 either as grain fodder or silage are but slightly inferior to corn in feeding 

 value. 



Second-growth sorghums may develop stock poisoning properties, but first 

 crops seldom do, if ever, while the dried forage is entirely free from any harm- 

 ful substances. 



Sugar beet plantations in the peasant husbandry, M. NovinskH (Kiev. 

 Agron. Obshch., Trudy Kom. Izuch. Khoz. lugo-Zapad. Kraia, 3 (1915), pp. 

 5-40). — The author advocates the cultivation of sugar beets among the peasants 

 of these southwestern Provinces of Russia, since the supply of land is limited, 

 and they could by this means eliminate the 3-year rotation system and at the 

 same time improve the land by the deep and careful cultivation that sugar 

 beets demand. Cooperation among the large planters, sugar factories, and 

 peasant growers is urged. Projects of agreements to be made between the beet 

 producers and the sugar factories are submitted. It is pointed out that sugar 

 beet culture would also aid the peasant in the feeding of his cattle. 



[Sugar cane], H. P. Agee (Haivaii. Sugar Planters" Sta. Rpt. Expt. Sta. Com., 

 1916, pp. 19-25). — The results from the Waipio experiments with sugar cane, 

 together with various plantation experiments dealing with fertilizer and 

 variety tests, are reported, and the field experiments now in progress are 

 listed. 



Further observations on the cultivation of Helianthus annuus, C. Tropea 

 (Bol. R. Giard. Colon. Palermo, 2 (1916), No. 4, pp. 214-220; abs. in Internat. 

 Inst. Agr. [Ronie^, Internat. Rev. Sci. and Pract. Agr., 7 (1916), No. 5, pp. 6S6, 

 687). — This is a brief report of some tests with varieties of Russian sunflowers 

 producing white seed, black seed, and variegated colored seed, the plants being 

 classified entirely according to color of seed. 



Fertilizer tests with tobacco varieties on college soils, G. Palafox y de la 

 Ctjesta (Philippine Agr. and Forester, 5 (1916), No. 2, pp. 50-59). — A series of 

 fertilizer trials with five varieties of tobacco in the Philippines is reported. 



All the varieties used responded creditably in height, vigor, and yield to fer- 

 tilizer treatment. The largest gains were realized from the use of stable 

 manure alone and legumes alone. From an economic standpoint green manuring 

 with cowpeas and the use of stable manure was the cheapest source of ma- 

 terial for obtaining increased production. Applications of commercial fer- 

 tilizers by large growers are recommended. 



Variability of tobacco in cultures on the college farm, A. B. Cagxjbangan 

 (Philippine Agr. and Forester, 5 (1916), No. 2, pp. 60-64)- — This is a sum- 

 marized report of work conducted at the Philippine College of Agriculture to 

 study the variations in leaves and habits of growth of the Texas Cuban, Low- 

 land Turkish, Connecticut Havana, and Tirona Hybrid tobaccos grown on the 

 college farm, and to determine what forms in each variety are most desirable 

 for selection. The conclusions arrived at from these studies are regarded as 

 thus far of rather local importance. 



The production of cigar wrapper tobacco under shade in the Philippines, 

 D. B. Paguirigan y Amalingan (Philippine Agr. and Forester, 5 (1916), No. 2, 

 pp. 39-49). — In these experiments, the native varieties Cagayan and Tirona 

 Hybrid and the acclimatized foreign varieties — Turkish Lowland, Vuelta Abajo, 

 Sumatra, and Texas Cuban — were grown both in the open and under shade. 



