738 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



Distance for planting maize, J. Burtt-Davy {Agr. Joxir. Union So. Africa, 

 J/ {1912), No. 5, pp. 723-729, figs. 3). — In an experiment to determine the proper 

 distance for planting corn the author reports that the best yield, 2,846 lbs. 

 per acre, was obtained from a distance of 3 ft. 6 in. by 1 ft. 6 in. In a study 

 of the size and shape of the grains of Reid Yellow Dent it was found that 

 the length of grain ranged from 8/16 to 10/16 in., and the width from 5/16 

 to 6/16 in. 



Experiments in corn cultivation, H. Dammann {Rev. Inst. Agron. Monte- 

 video, 1910, No. 7, pp. 1G7-172). — Single plants in checks of 40 cm. gave better 

 results than those placed 30, 50, 60 or 70 cm. apart, yielding 4.550 kg. of 

 grain, 940 kg. of cobs, and 5,080 kg. of stover per hectare. In an experiment 

 to determine the value of cultivating corn an increase of 300 kg. of grain 

 per hectare was harvested when the crop was cultivated with a cultivator over 

 when the weeds were simply removed with a hoe without disturbing the soil. 



A method of improving' the quality of cotton seed, G. D. Mehta and V. G. 

 GoiviiALE {Dept. Agr. Bombay Bui. 53, 1912, pp. 12, pis. 3). — This bulletin gives 

 the results with various methods used for the separation of cotton seed, the 

 most successful of which seemed to be that of pasting down the fuzz with 

 Hour paste and separating the hea\^ seeds by means of a blower. It is noted 

 that the germination percentage was increased from 8 to 35 per cent in various 

 cases, according to the quality of the original sample of seed, by passing it 

 through this separator. 



Cotton experiments in the Cape Province, A. Van Ryneveld {Agr. Jour. 

 Union So. Africa, 4 {1912), No. 6, pp. 830-8^2, figs. i2).— This paper reports a 

 variety test of cotton in which the yields ranged from 810 to 2,067 lbs. per 

 acre. INIethods of planting, harvesting, and rattooning, and the estimated cost 

 per acre are reported. 



The story of cotton, B. O. Brooks {Chicago, New York, and London, 1911, 

 pp. 370, i)ls. 2, figs. 92). — The author has divided this book into 17 chapters, 

 which cover the origin and history of the development of cotton, and its 

 culture, manufacture, and use up to the present day in all parts of the world. 



On the inheritance of morpholog'ical characters of Hordeum distichum 

 nutans, C. Fruwirth {Verhandl. Naturf. Ver. Briinm,, 49 {1910), pp. 122-129, 

 pis. 2). — In this paper are reported observations on the hairy condition of the 

 rachilla for 4 generations. Short hair, naked, elongated, or other abnormal 

 forms of the rachilla were not transmitted. The author therefore considers 

 these abnormalities as bud variations and suggests that the hairy condition 

 of the rachilla is a good indication of pure lines in breeding. 



Kafir as a grain crop, C. R. Ball and B. E. Rothgeb {U. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Farmers' Bvl. 552, pp. 19, figs. 8). — This gives descriptions of varieties, includ- 

 ing White Kafir, Blackhull Kafir, Dwarf Blackhull Kafir, Pink Kafir, and Red 

 Kafir corn, and data as to methods of culture of the crop, including harvest- 

 ing, curing, thrashing, and storing, the yield, and the uses of the crop. 



Yields of various varieties at the Cereal Field Station, Amarillo, Tex., from 

 1908 to 1912 ranged from 3 bu. to 42.0 bu. per acre. " The use of dwarf and 

 early varieties, such as the Dwarf Blackhull, will permit much better yields 

 in dry seasons than can be obtained from varieties of standard height. The 

 dwarf plant actually uses less water in gro\Vth. Earliness enables it to 

 matui'e before a drought occurs. Combined dwarfness and earliness lower the 

 water requirements and so permit the plant to continue growth, even in spite 

 of drought, because the dwarf plant does not use water as fast." 



Report on oat experiments {Edinh. and East of Scot. Col. Agr. Rpt. 29, 

 1913, pp. 21). — This reports and discusses the results and comparisons of yields 

 from 26 varieties of oats obtained at 52 centers in the years 1909-1912. Tabu- 



