728 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 37 



bility up to 8 in. in radius. Sap wood decays irrespective of resin content, spe- 

 cific gravity, widtli of annual rings, or species. 



Tlie practical conclusion drawn Is that specilications for great durability 

 sliould be based on a judicious combination of high specific gravity, large num- 

 ber of rings per inch, and small percentage of sapwood present. The more 

 durable timber is that showing broad bands of summer wood and narrow 

 bands of spring wood as seen in the cross section. 



Studies in the physiology of the fungi. — IV, The growth of certain fungi 

 in plant decoctions, preliminary account, B. M. Duggar, J. W. Se\'eby. and H. 

 ScHMiTz (Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard., Jf (1917), No. 2, pp. 165-178, figs. ^).— 

 Employing standardized decoctions, with or without additions as given, the 

 authors have made a study of fungi with somewhat different habits of growth, 

 employing for this purpose Macrosporium commune, Aspergillus niger, Glo- 

 m^rella (Gl(EOsporium) gossypii, and PcnicilUum cxpaiisum. The results frc'n> 

 each fungus are plotted and discussed. 



The addition of sugar, nitrate, and phosphate gave in every ca.se, except with 

 Glomerella on bean decoction, an increase in growth over the addition of sug:ir 

 alone. The next highest growth was obtained in most cases when sugar and 

 nitrate were added. The changes produced in the hydrogen ion concentrations 

 due to the growth of the fungi are also indicated. 



Microorganisms in silage, G. M. Reed and Lena Barber (Missouri Sta. liitl. 

 147 (1917), p. 29). — Twenty-two different species of fungi are reported to have 

 been identified from 15 s.imples of moldy silage. Pcnic-illium italicum was the 

 species most commonly found, while P. roqucfortii, Mucor circinclloides, Rhi:o- 

 pus nigricans, and Oidium lactis were found in the order nametl. All of these 

 fungi were isolated from silage that had been reported as injurious to stock 

 as well as from silage that was entirely liarmle.ss. No evidence was obtaine<l 

 indicating clearly the connection of AspergiUu* fumigatu^ with stock poisoning 

 from moldy silage. 



FIELD CROPS. 



General agriculture, P. Dufloth (Agriculture G&n^rale. Paris: J. B. Bail- 

 li&re d Sons. 1917, vol. 2, 4- '<'• rev. and enl., pp. 552, figs. 276). — A revised and 

 enlarged edition of the work by the same author, previously noted (E. S. R., 14. 

 p. 1032). 



Agronomical investigations [at the Guam Experiment Station, 19161. 

 A. C. Habtendower (duam Sta. Rpt. 1916. pp. 6-25. pis. .J).— This reports the 

 continuation of work previously notetl (E. S. R., 35, p. S29), including improve- 

 ment work with corn and field tests with cotton, rice, tobacco, leguminous forage 

 crops, Kafir corn, feterita. milo maize, and gra.s--^es. 



Seedings of the Yellow Dent and Chisholm varieties of corn from Texas failed 

 to set ears, while a white variety from Hawaii produced a few small inferior 

 ears. 



In 1915 Gila, an Egyptian cotton, and Columbia and Covlngton-Toole, Upland 

 types, were heavily pruned and left In the plats to study the ratoon crops pro- 

 duced. Yields of seed cotton were secured which amounted to 301. 1.137, and 

 1,012 lbs. per acre, respectively. The highe.st yielding variety for both the first 

 and second 191G crops was IlartsviUe, with 1.820 and 1,754 lbs. of seed cotton 

 jier acre. Sea Island and Caravonica have proved unsatisfactory In all tests 

 to date. Cotton growing throughout the island is briefly noted, and the follow- 

 ing general conclusions drawn from accumulated data of cotton experiments: 

 Cotton planting about May 1 Is deemed unprofitable, as the ground Is so occu- 

 pied that the production of any other crop that year Is prohibited, and because 



