1»20] FIELD CROPS. 829 



ports chemical examinations, together with brief descriptions, of samples of the 

 following fibers at the Imperial Institulo: Flax from India and Egypt; Sunn 

 hemp (Grotalaria juncea) and jute from India; Hibiscus cannabinus from 

 India, Rhodt'Sia, and Sudan; Sida rhombifulia from South Africa; sisal from 

 Jamaica and Sierra Leone ; henequen from British Honduras and Jamaica ; and 

 Mauritius hemp {Furcrwa gigantea) and sansevieria from Rhodesia. 



The Kuwai, C. H. Knowi^es and R. Knight (Fiji Dept. Agr. Circ, 1 {1920), 

 No. 5, pp. 86, 87). — A brief description of the small yam indigenous to Fiji, with 

 notes on cultural practices and utilization of the crop. 



Kxpcrinients in growing peas, K. ViK {Norges Landbr. Hoiskoles Aker- 

 vekst. Aarsber., 1917-18, pp. S6-85). — The experiments reported, covering a 

 period of over 20 years, were conducted cooperatively in various parts of 

 Norway, and comprised inoculation, culture, and variety tests. 



Mixing from 10 to 20 per cent of peas with the seed of other crops for the 

 purpose of increasing the nodule organisms in the soil did not reduce the yield, 

 and had a beneficial influence, from the standpoint of soil inoculation, on the 

 succeeding crops of peas on land not producing peas regularly. The crop 

 coming after peas also derived benefit from this method of inoculation. Mixing 

 peas with the seed of a crop grown two years before peas gave as good results 

 as when the crop immediately preceding peas was treated in the same way. 

 This method of providing for adequate soil inoculation seemed more effective 

 and reliable in the eastern part of Norway than in other sections in which the 

 experiments were in progress. Liming the soil increased the effectiveness of 

 this method of inoculation. 



In seeding experiments, peas were sown at the rates of 160, 200, and 240 peas 

 per .square meter, and based on the results secured, the following approximate 

 rates of seeding for different varieties are recommended : Onsrud, 175 to 225 

 lbs. ; Norwegian Green, 225 to 270 lbs. ; Snedinge, Michelet Green, and Rapide, 

 each 285 lbs. ; Solo, 320 lbs. ; and Norwegian Gray, 140 to 175 lbs. per acre. 

 Early, as compared with late, seeding in practically all tests gave the best 

 results. The different varieties grown in the experiments are described, and 

 notes on their behavior are given. The varieties of yellow peas reported as 

 leading in yield are Snedinge and Onsrud, and Svalof Concordia, a green 

 variety, as ranking above all garden varieties in the tests. Michelet Green, a 

 very early variety, is recommended for northern localities. 



The annual yields of Snedinge peas, B^nne barley, Duppauer oats, and 

 Lerdals spring wheat on the experiment fields from 1898 to 1914, inclusive, are 

 given in a table. The average yields per unit area for the entire period were 

 as follows: Peas, 299 kg. vines and 180 kg. peas; barley, 352 kg. straw and 

 235 kg. grain ; oats, 378 kg. straw and 265 kg. grain ; and spring wheat, 379 kg. 

 straw and 226 kg grain. 



The technique of cross-fertilization in potatoes, R. N. Salaman (Jour. 

 Min. Agr. [London], 27 (1920), No. 2, pp. 1S8-JU- flgs- 4/ al^o in Potato Mag., S 

 (1920), No. 2, pp. 8, 12, 26, flgs. 4). — A brief discussion of methods of interest to 

 the potato breeder. 



Potato culture, H. Werneb, revised by C. von Ectkenbbecheb (Dcr Kartoffel- 

 bau nach Seinem Jetzigen Rationellen Standpunkte. Berlin: Paul Parey, 8. ed., 

 rev. and enl, 1919, pp. 190, flgs. 29). — This is the eighth edition of this popular 

 handbook, comprising descriptions of German varieties and a general discussion 

 of cultural methods and field practices employed in growing the crop in Ger- 

 many, with notes on storage and marketing of the product. 



Potato storage and storage houses, G. Schneideu (Zehn Oebotte fiir die 

 Suchgcniiisse .iufbeicahrung und Pflege der Kartoffeln. Berlin: Paul Parey, 1918, 



