1918] FIELD CROPS. 639 



Study of the root systems of pasture plants on the moor soils of the ex- 

 periment fields at Flahult and Torestorp, H. Osvald {Mitt. Ver. Ford. Moor- 

 kultur Dcut. Reiche, 34 (1916), No. ^. pp. 62-76, figs. iO).— Observations made 

 on the depth and distribution of the root systems of white clover, timothy, 

 meadow foxtail, Kentucky bluegrass, meadow fescue, red fescue, and orchard 

 grass growing on lowland and upland moor soils were supplemented by studies 

 of the root anatomy. 



On the upland moor meadows at Flahult a dense and heavy root growth 

 occurred in the upper 5 cm. (2 in.), in the next 25 cm. the growth was very 

 thin, while below 30 cm. practically no roots were found. The lowland moor 

 meadows of Torestorp showed a dense and heavy root development in the upper 

 15 to 20 cm. which gradually became thinner as it extended to the depth 

 of 45 cm. 



The results of the anatomical studies indicated that roots from moor soils are 

 less densely constructed, have larger intercellular spaces, and lignify more 

 slowly than roots produced in sandy soil. The larger intercellular spaces which 

 always occur in such grasses as meadow foxtail, and meadow fescue, and timothy 

 are produced much earlier on moor soils and often are found even in very young 

 roots. This is considered due to the inadequate supply of oxygen in the soil 

 and this behavior of the plant as an effort on its part to provide aeration. The 

 absence of root nodules on clover is regarded as further evidence of the lack of 

 oxygen in the soil. On the upland moor soils at Flahult, nodules are found only 

 in the upper 2 or 3 centimeters. The results are taken as showing plainly that 

 on moor soils only a very thin surface layer serves as the source of moisture and 

 nutrients to meadow plants. 



Several methods of laying down cultivated land to meadow, S. Rhodin 

 (K. Landtbr. Akad. Eandl. och. Tidskr., 54 {1915), No. 7, pp. 569-582; Meddel. 

 Centralanst. Forsoksv. Jordbruksomrddet, No. 115 {1915), pp. 16). — Three dif- 

 ferent methods of seeding cultivated land to timothy and clover were compared. 

 The seed mixture used consisted of 3 kg. of red clover, 6 kg. of alsike clover, and 

 21 kg. of timothy per hectare (2.67, 5.34, and 18.69 lbs. per acre). In all cases 

 oats was used as a nurse crop. In one instance the clover and timothy seed 

 was mixed with the oats and the whole sown on smoothly harrowed soil at the 

 rate of 175 kg. per hectare ; in another instance the seed mixture was sown on 

 smoothly harrowed land before the nurse crop ; and in the third on unharrowed 

 land and after the nurse crop, the land being then smoothed down with the 

 harrow. 



The best results were obtained from sowing the seed mixture before the nurse 

 crop. It was also found that covering the clover and grass seed not more than 

 1.5 cm. (about 0.6 in.) proved most satisfactory. 



Com culture in the Southeastern States, C. H. Kyxe {TJ. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Farmers' Bui. 729 {1916), pp. 19, figs. 11). — This publication makes recommen- 

 dations and suggestions regarding the preparation of land for corn, the use of 

 commercial fertilizers in corn culture, and the planting and cultivation of the 

 crop, applicable mostly to the cotton-growing sections of North Carolina, South 

 Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. 



Cotton, H. Semleb (O Algoddo. Rio de Janeiro: Mvn. Agr., Indus, e Com., 

 1914, pp. 110, figs. 40). — This is a popular treatise on the cotton industry, in- 

 cluding a botanical and historical review of the plant, directions for its culture, 

 a description of ginning and other processes of preparing the crop for the 

 market, and statistical notes on the production of cotton for different years 

 and countries. 



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