19171 FIELD CROPS. 539 



The growing of cultivated leguminous catch crops on the paddy fields during 

 the dry season is recommended, such crops as the peanut, mungo bean, cowpea, 

 and sitao being deemed most suitable for this purpose. 



Tlie production of upland rice is briefly discussed. 



[Rice improvement], B. Marcakelli {Oior. Risicolt., 6 (1916), No. 16, pp. 

 253-257). — This is a general discussion of rice improvement through seed 

 selection. 



The nitrogen fertilization of rice, N. Novelli {&ior. Risicolt., 6 {1916), No. 

 10, pp. 161-164) ■ — Tliis is a brief general discussion of the fertilization of rice 

 with anmionium sulphate, sodium nitrate, and calcium cyanamid. 



A remarkable cultural variety of rye in the upper valley of Dora Riparia, 

 Italy, C. F. Cerriana (Coltivatore, 62 (1916), No. 12, pp. 358-362, figs. 2; ahs. 

 in Intemat. Inst. Agr. [Rome'\, Intcrnat. Rev. Sci. and Pract. Agr., 7 (1916), 

 No. 6, pp. 825, 826). — This describes a variety of rye grown in certain mountain 

 regions of Italy, and partially adapted to growing in the lower plains region. 



The variety is described as differing from common rye in that the culms are 

 shorter, leaves darlier and wider, ears denser, grains laj'ger and greenish in 

 color even when fully ripe, yields of grain higher (approximately 27 bu. per 

 iicre), and flour whiter, yielding a whiter loaf. This rye tillers freely and, 

 owing to the climatic conditions of the region, is often on the ground from 12 to 

 13 months. It is especially suited to poor, dry, and wind-exposed soils, and, 

 in combination with common rye, is suitable for fertile soils, provided they 

 are not exposed to excessive humidity or fog. The characteristic qualities of this 

 ^•ariety disappear after the second reproduction outside of its natural environ- 

 ment, necessitating a renewal of the seed every three years. 



The composition of grain sorghum kernels, J. A. Le Clerc and L. H. Bailey 

 {Jour. Amer. Sac. Agroti., 9 (1911), No. 1, pp. 1-16). — This paper gives the 

 minimum and maximum results obtained, and the average composition found, 

 in analyses of several hundred samples of grain sorghums grown at Amarillo, 

 Tex., from 1908 to 1912, inclusive. The results are presented in tabular form 

 and discussed so as to bring out the correlations between the percentage of 

 protein and the weight per 1,000 kernels, and also to show how the composition of 

 grain varies with a high and low protein content, a high and low weight per 1,000 

 kernels, and a high and low ash content. Data are given on the rainfall at 

 various periods during the growth of different grain sorghums at Amarillo, an- 

 nually from 1908 to 1912, in an effort to correlate protein content and yield with 

 rainfall. 



The competition of the grain sorghums is compared in tabular form with 

 that of many of the other grains and seeds to ascertain their comparative 

 food value. 



Analyses are also given of shallu and broom corn, and of bread made in part 

 from grain sorghum meal. This meal is reported as producing a pleasing loaf. 



The authors conclude that in the grain sorghums low protein is correlated 

 with high weight per bushel, low fiber, low ash. and low pentosans, and, except 

 in the case of milos, with low weight per 1,000 kernels, although this last is not 

 a definite relationship. From the data on rainfall it is evident that the amount 

 of precipitation between the periods of emergence and ripening has less influence 

 upon the composition and yield of the crop than has either the amount of rain- 

 fall before the period of emergence or the total yearly rainfall. 



The sugar beet during vegetation, E. Saillard (Monit. Sci., 5. ser., 6 (1916), 

 I, No. 89 Jf, pp. 121-125). — This is a brief discussion of the effects of meteorologi- 

 cal conditions on the sugar beet during the growing season. Averages are given 

 for the 10-year period 1904 to 1913 for each week of August and September 

 showing the rainfall, hours of sunshine, and mean temperature, and the yield of 



