I'Ji^O] FIELD CROPS. 233 



10ti\ iroiiinfj conditions larf;«'Iy inilucnccd suckcrinR and also the Icn^rtli and 

 ♦lUality of the brusli. Tiu- lliick stands produced sii(»rt brush and tlie lliin 

 stands loiii^. coarse brusli. Sowinj,' tlie crop from May 1 to 15 or from June 

 l.'i to :U) proved best, as sowinj^ at tliese times enal)ied tlie crop to avoid lieading 

 duriiij; tlie usually hot and dry weather of the middle of Augrust. The most 

 imttitable stand for a series of years appeared to be 1 plant to 6 or 8 in. of 

 ni\v space with the rows 3.5 ft. apart. Nothing was gained by the method of 

 s|iacing the rows 7 ft. apart and doubling the thickness of the plants in the 

 row. 



I( was observed that harvesting when the seeds are in the dough stage gave a 

 liiglier yield of brush than harvesting at an earlier date, and it was found 

 also that the brush obtained when harvested at this stage is the best. The 

 results of nursery work showed that much of the seed from commercial 

 sources is of poor quality. I'rogre.ss in developing strains producing a uniform 

 • luality of brush is reported. 



Carpet grass, C. V. Pipkr and L. Cariueu (U. S. Dept. Affi'., Faniicrx' Bui. 

 I l.iO {1020), PI). 12, figs. 5). — Historical and descriptive notes on carpet gra.ss are 

 -iven, the value of the grass, with its climatic and soil re(iulrements, is pointed 

 nut, and methods of e.stablishing and maintaining carpet grass pastures of good 

 ( arrying capacity are noted. The harvesting and cleaning of carpet grass seed 

 are also briefly described. 



Time of applying nitrate of soda to cotton, E. F. Cautiikn and J. T. Wil- 

 liamson {Alabama Sta. Bui. 209 {1920), pp. 3-15). — The experiments reported 

 were conducted at the station from 1910-1916, inclusive, and in 14 localities 

 ii' !!ie norll'ci'ii part of tiie State, which was still largely free from the boll 

 weevil, and where results were secured in each case for only one year, although 

 ( overing the period of 191 4-1919, inclusive. The results for each series of tests 

 :tre given in tables. 



At the station 140 lbs. of nitrate of soda per acre was applied either at the 

 time of planting, the first cultivation after thinning, the appearance of the 

 first squares, or the appearance of the first blooms. A complete fertilizer con- 

 sisting of IGO lbs. of acid phosphate, 1(X) lbs. of cottonseed meal, and 80 lbs. 

 of kainit or its equivalent per acre was applied before each planting except in 

 1915 and 191(>. The largest average increase in yield, 80 lbs. of seed cotton per 

 acre, was secured fi'om the application made at the first cultivation after 

 thinning, or about 40 days after planting. These results were obtained either 

 with slight or no boll weevil infestation. 



The average results secured in the 14 local experiments indicated that nitrate 

 of .soda, at the rate of 1(K) lbs. per acre, gave the best results when applied at 

 or before the appearance of the first squares. This same application made at 

 the first cultivation after thinning was more effective than the use of 200 lbs. 

 of cottonseed meal per acre when in each case 100 lbs. of nitrate of soda was 

 ftdded three weeks after the first blossoms appeared. Nitrate of soda at the 

 rate of L'tK) lbs. per acre, 100 lbs. at the first cultivation after thinning, and 100 

 lbs. about three we<'ks after the beginning of the blossoming period, was more 

 effective and slightly more profitable than the use of ICK) lbs. applied at or 

 before the time the first .sfpiares apiM>ared. 



The jack bean, C. V. Pipee (U. S. Dept. Agr., Dept. Circ. 92 {1920), pp. 12, 

 fig. 1). — The plant is described, its history, botany, and culture are noted, and 

 its value as green manure, green feed, hay, silage, and human food, and as a 

 source of iirease, a substance used in medicine, are di.svussed. The results of 

 chemical analyses of the difl'erent parts of the plants, as comi)iled from various 

 siiurces, are given in a table. 



I 



