1917] FIELD CROPS. 439 



A seeding rate of from 30 to 40 lbs. per acre for soy beans is recommended 

 when the beans are planted in rows, with a rate of from 1 bu. to 6 pk. when 

 sown broadcast. 



The variety tests included a comparison of yields of seed, hay, and straw. 

 Recommendations of soy bean varieties for central Illinois include Haberlandt, 

 Hong Kong, Chestnut, Amherst. Ebony, Sherwood, Meyer, and Nuttall for seed 

 production. Ebony is a consistent-yielding, medium late, standard variety, 

 while Medium Yellow, although not a high-yielding variety, is early and is 

 recommended for planting when winter wheat is to follow soy beans. The two 

 last-named varieties are considered the best for southern Illinois conditions. 

 The agronomic characteristics of 27 varieties of soy beans are listed in tabular 

 form. 



In variety tests with cowpeas for seed production Extra Early Black Eye for 

 central Illinois and Michigan Favorite for southern Illinois gave the best re- 

 sults. Cowpea tests were abandoned at Urbana in 1909, due to the superiority 

 of soy beans. At Fairfield the range of average yields of soy beans was from 

 6.5 to 16 bu. per acre, while the range of cowpeas was only from 3.4 to 7.2 bu. 

 per acre. 



A test of soy beans grown in rows 24 in. apart and cultivated, at Fairfield, 

 gave a 3-year average yield of 14.4 bu., as compared with a yield of 15.5 bu. 

 from beans sown in rows 8 in. apart and not cultivated. The highest average 

 yields of beans were secured for two consecutive years from a row spacing of 

 24 in. as compared with spacings of 32 and 40 in. 



The dry-matter content of field-cured and green forage, A. C. Arny (Jour. 

 Amer. Soc. Agron., 8 (1916), No. 6, pp. 358-363, pi. 1). — This is a comparison 

 of the determination of the yields of alfalfa and other forage crops by weigh- 

 ing the field-cured hay with weighing the crop green. The data were obtained 

 under field conditions from a large number of plats on the university farm, 

 Minnesota College of Agriculture. The crops of 1915 were weighed and sampled 

 as soon as cut and are compared with those of 1914, which were weighed and 

 sampled when field-cured. 



The coefficient of variation appeal's to be the most satisfactory basis for com- 

 parison and is given, together with the mean of the dry-matter percentages and 

 the standard deviations. Data are given for three cuttings of alfalfa, two cut- 

 tings of timothy and clover mixed, and one cutting of sweet clover for each year. 



The alfalfa and timothy and clover plats were less variable in dry-matter 

 content in 1914 than when weighed as soon as cut in 1915. Sweet clover was 

 more variable in dry-matter content when weighed and sampled in the field- 

 cured condition than when weighed and sampled as soon as cut. A more ac- 

 curate estimate of the weights of alfalfa and timothy and clover mixed was 

 secured from the weights based on the field-cured hay than on the crop cut 

 green. Sweet clover showed a higher moisture content than the oilier crops at 

 the time of cutting, indicating that it could be less easily cured than alfalfa or 

 timothy and clover mixed, and that less representative samples could be secured. 



A variation of 5 per cent or more in the moisture content of the crops on dif- 

 ferent plats Is deemed too great for accurate results ; therefore, samples for 

 making corrections of yields on the air-dry or water-free basis are necessary. 

 When such samples are taken it has been found more desirable to weigh the 

 product of each plat as soon as cut, especially if nitrogen determinations or 

 complete analyses are to follow the determination of dry-matter content. 



Alfalfa in Kansas, H. W. Doyt.e et al. (Quart. Rpt. Kans. Bd. Agr., 35 

 (1916), No. 138, pp. 11-338, 447-472, figs. 288).— A detailed discussion of the 

 production and marketing of alfalfa in Kansas. 

 12883°— 17— No. 5 4 



