1920] FIELD CROPS. 739 



with the Bureau of Plant Industry of the U. S. Department of Agriculture from 

 1908-1918, iucluding observations on yields of fodder from corn in rotations 

 and under various systems of tillage, are reported, together with studies of tlie 

 effect of corn on the yields of succeeding crops, and a comparison of disking r. 

 plowing corn stubble. Meteorological data and crop yields are presented in 

 tabular and diagrammatic form. The results obtained and conclusions reached 

 may be summarized as follows: 



.\Ithough no corn could be found that matured a grain crop in the short season, 

 Northwestern Dent and several other varieties producetl a fine quality of 

 fodder mature enough for feeding either dry or as silage. The 10-year average 

 yield for corn in rotations was 5,071 lbs., as compared with 2,530 lbs. for 

 alfalfa, 2,128 lbs. for red clover, and 1.953 lbs. for brome grass. Corn made 

 higlier yields following corn than after summer fallow or small grain, but the 

 advantages of a rotation were held to malie this preferable to continuous 

 cropping. 



Subsoiling produced the highest average fodder yield, but the increase over 

 shallow plowing was not deemed suflieient to r)ay for the increased cost of 

 production. Plowing gave higher yields than listing, which was not consid- 

 ered to bo adapted to the soils in Judith Basin. Sununer fallowing before corn, 

 like dynamiting, did not justify the practice with increased yields. Stable 

 manure applied to corn plats before spring plowing at the rate of 10 tons per 

 acre increased the average yields of fodder about 1,000 lbs. per acre. 



In all cases yields of oats, spring wheat, and barley averaged higher after 

 corn than after small grain crops, and as high, or nearly as high, as when 

 following summer fallow. Spring wheat, oats, and flax all gave slightly higher 

 yields on disked than on plowed corn land. 



Results of seven years' pedigree selection in Trice cotton, E. A. Houson 

 (Arkansas Sta. Bui. 171 {1920), pp. S-27, pis. 4, figs. .$).— Data describing in 

 detail the progeny of a number of selections of Trice cotton of both semicluster 

 and Peterkin type are represented. In addition to pedigree charts, frequency 

 distributions, and correlntions for the separate characters studied, detailed notes 

 on the type, fruiting habits, and yields of the selected plants are included in 

 tabular form. 



Illustrating the variability in desirable plants, the author notes that the 

 selections varied from 30 to G5 in. in height ; had from to 6 base limbs, G to 

 25 fruiting branches, and 10 to 85 bolls per plant; and bore bolls varying from 

 50 to 110 per pound. The lint of the selectetl plants varied from 18 to 27 mm., 

 while the mean length ranged from 22.05 mm. in 1911 to 25.27 mm. in 1914. 

 In a study of the length of lint in progeny the average of the 10 longest lint 

 selections in 1011 was 25.79 mm., while the average of the 10 shortest lint 

 selections was 23.5G nmi. The progeny of the short lint silections gave longer 

 lint than the progeny of the long lint selections in 1915, but shorter in 1917 

 and 1918. 



A study of the descriptions of selected plants indicated to the author that that 

 type of plant was not to be considered as an index to the potential productive- 

 ness, and that there was no measurable difference between the parents of the 

 most productive and those of the least productive plats. 



Experiments in the size of the seed piece and other factors in tlie pro- 

 duction of potatoes under irrigation in southern Idaho, L. C. Aiciier (Idaho 

 Sta. Bui. 121 (1920), pp. 3-lG, fi(js. ,8).— This reports potato experiments con- 

 ducted at the Aberdeen Substation embracing comparisons of whole seed r. 

 cut seed, and irrigated v. dry-land seed stock for irrigated land, iu addition 

 16032°— 20 4 



