FIELD CEOPS. 141 



Couch grass (Agropyron repens), C. Kbatts (Arh. Dent. Londw. GeselL, 

 1912, No. 220. pp. 152, pis. ID). — This is an extensive discussion and compila- 

 tion in regard to the common couch or wheat grass. The subject is treated in 

 7 chapters, covering (1) nomenclature and botanical description; (2) distribu- 

 tion and natural methods of propagation; (3) uses and disadvantages of the 

 plant in cultivated fields and meadows, productivity and chemical composition, 

 feeding value, and manurial value; (4) description of the plant and its parts; 

 (5) development of the plant, and the multiplication of the rhizomes in the 

 soil; (G) the behavior of couch grass in abnormal conditions, such as burying 

 the rhizomes with earth, growth in wet soil, suppression of light, removal of 

 above-ground parts, drought resistance, cold resistance, and chemical treatment ; 

 (7) methods of combating, heavy shading by crops, and seeding land to grass. 

 It is noted that couch grass may be exterminated either by direct or indirect 

 methods, their effectiveness depending upon the kind and time of application. 



Analyses of the air-dried rhizomes showed 1.07 per cent nitrogen, 0.49 per 

 cent potash, 0.38 per cent phosphorus, and 0.27 per cent calcium. A yield of 

 388 gm. of couch grass per plat is noted in comparison with 428 gm. of fescue, 

 713 gm. of orchard grass, 545 gm. of English rye grass, and 735 gm. of timothy. 



Eeterita, a new variety of sorghum, H. N. Vinall and C. 11. Ball ( U. S. 

 Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Circ. 122, pp. 25-32). — This paper reports work 

 with this new grain sorghum at Amarillo and Chillicothe, Tex., for the past 

 5 or 6 years. The history of its introduction from Egypt is given, with its 

 description, probable value, and methods of planting, cultivation and harvest. 



The yields of feterita ranged about like those of milo and Dwarf milo maize, 

 and at the Amarillo station varied from 9.3 to 40.3 bu. per acre. At Lubbock, 

 Tex., in 1912, feterita produced 57.71 bu. per acre. 



As feterita is a newly introduced plant, and quite variable, it is suggested 

 that seed selection and improvement be practiced in each district where it 

 is grown in order to obtain adapted strains. 



History of the Wurttemberg hop culture, K. Nastold (TuMnger Staatswis-^. 

 Ahhftndl., IDll, No. 15, pp. 131). — The 4 main topics taken up are the history 

 and development of hop culture in AVurttemberg from its early beginning to 

 the present day ; the hop industry in individual districts ; the technique, includ- 

 ing the varieties, hop garden plans and annual work, the wire and stake 

 methods of cultivation, the harvest, drying, and kilns; and the profits of hop 

 culture. 



Oats by pictures, J. Brotli (Arh. Deut. Landtv. GeselL, 1911, No. 194, PP- ^7. 

 pis. i6).— This presents drawings, mostly greatly enlarged, of the parts of 

 the inflorescence and kernels of oats, with brief explanations of each. 



Hulled oats, Y. Buchholz (Tid-sskr. Norske Landbr., 19 {1912), No. 5, pp. 

 213-223). — The results of the author's investigations indicated that the hulled 

 oats were only 50 per cent as valuable as whole oats as seed grain. The oats 

 hulled in the threshing process showed a lower percentage of germination than 

 the whole oats of the same crop. The germination of the hulled oats is also 

 greatly reduced during storage. 



Proper growing and handling of potato seed stock, C. D. Woods and W. J. 

 Morse (Maine Sta. Doc. 435, pp. 15). — This is a paper presented at the annual 

 convention of the American Seed Trade Association, June 21, 1911, discussing 

 the factors which bear on the production of seed potatoes, the handling and 

 shipping of seed, vegetative vigor, northern grown seed, seed true to name, how 

 to improve a strain, quality of seed, and potato diseases. Quality and purity 

 of seed are regarded as of prime importance in the production of seed potatoes. 



Shallu, or Egyptian corn {Wallaces' Farmer, 38 {1913). No. 12, p. 527). — 

 This article notes a yield of o^'er 70 bu. per acre of this grain, obtained by a 



