FIELD CROPS. 535 



Little if any change was found in the composition of the hops when dried at a 

 temperature of 145° F. The data as to the composition of hops at different 

 stages of ripeness have been noted fi'om another source (E. S. R., 28, p. 213). 



Methods of hop analysis are described and discussed, including the method 

 previously noted (E. S. R., 27, p. 814). Tables give results of analyses. It is 

 noted that analyses have shown the Pacific coast hops to be equal to those of 

 other countries. 



Deficiencies in the present standards of judging hops are presented and the 

 need of scientific standards that will determine the quantity of foreign matter 

 and of soft bitter and hard resins is pointed out. 



The effect of selection in pure-line oat work, F. A. Spkagg (Proc. Amer. 

 Soc. Agron., 4 (1912), pp. S1-S3). — This paper gives some tabulated data 

 of 10 years of selection of oats, in which the line of descent passed through 

 a selected individual plant in good and poor families. It was observed in 

 general that the poor families remained poor and vice versa. 



Experiments with Phacelia tanacetifolia, E. Hazelhoff (Fiihling^s Landw. 

 Ztg., 62 (1913), No. 2, pp. 65-71).— It is stated that this plant is well known 

 as a bee pasture plant and has been much recommended as a forage crop. In 

 field culture it yielded 11,630 kg. per hectare (5.18 tons per acre), as compared 

 with 3,074 kg. of Russian clover and 25,912 kg. of Northern French clover. 

 Analyses showed these clovers to contain a lower percentage of ash than 

 Phacelia and although the yields are smaller, it removes more mineral matter 

 from the soil, especially than the Northern French clover. Complete analyses 

 of Phacelia shortly before blooming, at the beginning of bloom, in full bloom, 

 and in seed are reported. 



Cultivation of the potato, E. Gauthieb (Rev. Inst. Agron. Montei>ideo, 1911, 

 No. 9, pp. 1-8). — This paper discusses the appearance and uses of the filiform 

 (or male) potato plant, and gives as causes that produce it the use of aborted 

 seed tubers, insufficient fertility of the soil, late planting, and premature har- 

 vesting. In a test it was found that sprouted tubers gave better results than 

 those not sprouted. • From a trial it was concluded that the continued use of 

 seed tubers of a given strain did not diminish the value or yield of that strain. 



Potato growing' in New Jersey, W. B. Duryee, Jr. (New Jersey Stas. Circ. 

 20, pp. 3-8). — This circular gives general directions for the production of pota- 

 toes in New Jersey. 



On the classification of cultivated rice, S. Kikkawa (Jour. Col. Agr. Imp. 

 Univ. Tokyo, S (1912), No. 2, pp. 11-108, pis. 4).— This is an extended classifica- 

 tion based upon its cultural characteristics, covering aquatic and upland, early 

 and late, giant rice, salt rice, tall and short, awned and awnless, color of 

 glume, stem, and leaf, and long-glumed and double rice; upon the utility of 

 the grain, including nonglutinous and glutinous, long-grained and short-grained, 

 large, medium, and small-grained, common and specially colored, and scented 

 rice; and upon the shape of the hulled and unhulled grain, including white 

 abdomened rice. 



Selection and improvement of a wild Solanum, C. Deneumostiek (Bol. Dir. 

 Fomento [Peru], 9 (1911), No. 10, pp. 1-15, pis. 16). — The author gives a brief 

 history of the discovery of this wild potato and of its description by Dunal in 

 1850. Plant experiments were inaugurated in 1911, in which seed tubers 

 varying in weight from 15 to 30 gm. were used. Tabulated results are given 

 with discussions. 



Varieties of sorghum for seed and forage, "V. Talanoff (Jux. Russ. Selsk. 

 Khos. Gaz., 1912, No. l-'f, pp. 8-12; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Bui. 

 Bur. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 3 (1912), No. 6, pp. 1307, 1308).— In a trial 

 of varieties for seed production a yield of 3,602 lbs. per acre was secured 



