FIELD CEOPS, 37 



Selection of seed potatoes in South Dakota, A. N. Hume and M. Champlin . 

 {South Dakota Sta. Bui. I40, pp. 20-S2, figs. 2).— The yield from large seed 

 tubers, averaging 5.7 oz. each, cut into 4 pieces averaging 1.4 oz. each, in one 

 instance was 28 per cent greater than the yield from smaller tubers averaging 

 3.1 oz., also cut into 4 i)ieees. In another instance it was 20 per cent greater. 

 The average weight of the tubers from the larger seed was 4.06 oz. and from 

 the smaller seed 4.01 oz. 



[Cultivation and fertilizer experiments with sug'ar cane], J. T. Crawley 

 (Porto Rico Sugar Producers' Sta. Rpt. 1912, pp. 6-1 Jf). — In a comparison 

 between hole and furrow planting very little difference was observed, a slightly 

 larger percentage of sucrose following the former method and a larger total 

 yield of beets from the furrow method in one te-st and the hole method in 

 another. 



In a series of fertilizer tests the highest results followed the u.=e of a com- 

 plete fertilizer containing double the usual amount of nitrogen. The applica- 

 tion of 12 cartloads of mud press cake scattered over one-half acre of land 

 resulted in an increased j'ield of 4.29 tons of cane per acre. Wide distance 

 in planting gave a higher percentage of sugar than close planting, but the latter 

 method produced the heavier total yield and was preferred. The work of other 

 investigators along this line is discussed. 



Variety tests are also reported, the highest yield being 3S.4 tons of cane per 

 acre with B208. 



Wild wheat in Palestine, O. F. Cook (U. S. Dept. Agr.. Bur. Plant Indus. 

 Bui. 27Ji, pp. 56, pis. 15, figs. 11). — This bulletin gives a further account of the 

 cereal discovered in Palestine by Aaronsohn (E. S. R., 24, p. 136), brings out 

 several additional factors regarding the characters and habits of the plant, 

 including the presence of specialized adaptations to facilitate cross-fertiliza- 

 tion, and suggests the acclimatization of cross-fertilized forms of the domesti- 

 cated type of wheat. 



It was established that this is a normally cross-fertilizing variety, as it pos- 

 sesses exserted anthers and open glumes. In some cases young, unripe stamens 

 were found in open flowers along with apparently adult, receptive stigmas. 

 These flowers were obviously proterogynous. 



From a biological standpoint the wild wheat appears superior to the domes- 

 ticated plant in its adaptation for protection and sowing of the seed. The wild 

 wheat has the rachis jointed, with the spikelets firmly fastened to the joints, 

 while the domesticated wheat has the rachis entire and the spikelets jointed to 

 the rachis. The glumes are A-ery large and tough and are grown fast to the 

 joints of the rachis. making it a difficult wheat to thresh. Although two seeds 

 are present in most of the spikelets, it is unusual for more than one of them to* 

 germinate 



In discussing the relation this wild wheat benrs to prehistoric civilization, 

 the author points to the fact that on account of the difficulty that would be 

 experienced in gathering and threshing, it could not have been a factor in intro- 

 ducing agriculture to primitive man. He considers it more probable that the 

 domesticators of such a wheat were already agricultural people, accustomed 

 to the use of other seed plants for food and equipped with some primitive means 

 of gathering and threshing as well as of grinding and cooking. 



"Adaptations for cross-fertilization were found in the wild wheat and also 

 indications of similar characters in the primitive unselected stocks of the domes- 

 ticated wheat grown in the same part of Palestine. Some of the flowers have 

 their anthers exserted before the shedding of the pollen, and, conversely, in 

 some flowers the glumes spread apart so that pollen is admitted befor? the 



