FIELD CROPS. 139 



8ta., 1912, pp. 42+3, pi. 1). — This report gives results of the progress of work 

 previously uoted (E. S. R., 26. p. 630). 



Practical crop rotation, with special reference to catch crops, W. EcGERrs 

 (Pralctische Fruchtfolgen mit Bcrucksichtigung des Zivischenfruchthaues. Ber- 

 lin, 1912, 3. ed. rev., pp. IO4, figs. 2). — This book discusses farming systems, 

 with reference to intensive and extensive methods. The place of each of the 

 following legumes in a rotation system is considered : Alsike clover, Bokhara 

 clover, horse beans, kidney vetch, lupines, peas, white clover, sand vetch, serra- 

 della, Swedish clover, vetch, and yellow clover. Practical rotations are sug- 

 gested for sandy clay, various calcareous, and swamp soils, and for meadows. 



The book of grasses, Mary E. Francis {Garden City and New York, 1912, 

 pp. XVI+351, pis. 81, figs. IIS). — This is a treatise on the grasses occurring 

 between Canada and Virginia and westward to the Mississippi, including the 

 most common sedges and rushes. The illustrations were made from the living 

 plants, and are accompanied by technical and general descriptions. 



Report of breeding' experiments with grasses and legumes, 1911, H. Witte 

 {Sveriges Uisddesfor. Tidskr., 22 {1912), No. 6, pp. 335~3Ji2) .—This report 

 gives an account of experiments with varieties of orchard grass, timothy, tall 

 oat grass, meadow fescue, and other grasses; red, alsike, and white clovers; 

 and alfalfa. 



An irrigation experiment, R. C. Fischer (Mitt. Landw. Lehrkans. K. K. 

 Hochsch. Bodcnkul. Wien, 1 (1912), No. 2, pp. 131-152). — This paper comprises 

 the results of irrigation experiments with alfalfa, covering 3 seasons, 1908-1910, 

 in which the check plat II C yielded in 1908 41.01 quintals per hectare (about 

 1.8 tons per acre), in 1909 58.52 quintals, and in 1910 52.32 quintals. The irri- 

 gated plats were divided into 3 series, with 3 plats in each. Plats I, IT, and III 

 were watered 8 times, plats I A, II A, and III A, 6 times, and plats I B, II B, 

 and III B, 5 times each year in varying amounts at different periods. Plats 

 I, II, and II B received 4,200 cubic meters of water per hectare during the 

 vegetative period, and produced an average of 101 quintals of dry matter per 

 hectare. Plats II A, III, and III A received 7,600 cubic meters of water per 

 hectare during the vegetative period, and produced an average of 78.24 quintals 

 of dry matter per hectare, while plat III B, which received no water during the 

 vegetative period but in the fall, yielded an average of 90.16 quintals of dry 

 matter per hectare. The general average of all irrigated plats was for the 3 

 years 97.55 quintals, and for unirrigated plats 50.28 quintals of dry matter per 

 hectare, an increase of 94 per cent for the irrigated land. 



During 1909, the most favorable results were obtained when the crop received 

 107 meters of water per 1 quintal dry matter, and the most unfavorable amount 

 of water was 242 meters per quintal dry matter. During 1910, the best results 

 were obtained with an application of 113 cubic meters, and the most unfavorable 

 with 558 cubic meters per quintal dry matter. 



Analyses showed that the hay crop from plat I contained 21.77 per cent of 

 protein, 0.676 per cent of phosphoric acid, and 2.199 per cent of potash; from 

 plat III B, 19.8 per cent of protein, 0.564 per cent of phosphoric acid, and 1.76 

 per cent of potash; and from plat II C (check), 19.99 per cent of protein, 0.595 

 per cent of phosphoric acid, and 1.579 per cent of potash. 



A simple demonstration of the action of natural selection, J. A. Harris 

 {Science, n. ser., 36 {1912), No. 93 Jf, pp. 713-715). — In discussing natural selec- 

 tion as a " highly speculative discipline," the author relates results of an experi- 

 ment made at the Station for Experimental Evolution in 1912. 



" In the spring of 1912, a series of about 238,000 bean seedlings was examined 

 for morphological variations to serve as a basis for experiments in selection 

 96700°— No. 2—13 4 



