HORTICULTURE. 39 



The improvement of tobacco cultivation in Bihar, A. and G. L. C. Howard 

 {Agr. Research Inst. Pusa Bui. 50 (1915), pp. 19, pis. ^, fig. 1). — The authors 

 suggest methods of improvement in producing seedlings, transplanting, field 

 cultivation, manuring, and selection that the growers of Bihar could employ. 



Time and method of tillage on the yield and comparative cost of produc- 

 tion of wheat in the Palouse region of eastern Washington, C. C. Thom and 

 H. F. HoLTz {Washington Sta. Bui. 123 (1915), pp. S-8).— This gives results of 

 a test of two years' rotations indicating a greater profit from continuous crop- 

 ping with wheat and corn or wheat and field peas than with wheat and summer 

 fallow. With wheat and summer fallow early spring plowing not packed was 

 more profitable than when packed, but late spring plowing was more profitable 

 packed. Early spring plowing was more profitable than late spring plowing, 

 and early spring disking before late spring plowing more profitable than not 

 disking. Fall plowing with late spring disking was more profitable than fall 

 disking with late spring plowing. Wheat and volunteer pasture was the most 

 unprofitable rotation tried. 



Varieties of hard spring wheat, C. R. Ball and J. A. Claek (Z7. S. Dept. 

 Agr., Farmers' Bui. 680 (1915), pp. 20, figs. 7).— The authors point out the 

 characteristics of the common and durum wheats grown in the northern Great 

 Plains. Descriptions of durum, Fife, Preston, and bluestem groups are given 

 with varietal names and average yields in different sections. A key to the 

 identification of the groups is included. 



Fertility and weeds, J. W. Inge (North Dakota Sta. Bui. 112 (1915), pp. 

 2S3-247, figs. 6) . — This gives results of a study of the composition of weeds and 

 their influence on the soil fertility and crop growth. Figured on a moisture- 

 free basis it is shown that the amount of ash in weeds is very large, ranging 

 from 7.95 per cent to 22.7 per cent, with an average of about 12 per cent. Of 

 the 27 weed samples reported, 24 contained more of the valuable plant food con- 

 stituents, that is, nitrogen and phosphoric acid, than the average of the four 

 grain crops — wheat, oats, barley, and flax. 



In studying field conditions, in nine cases it was found that the average per- 

 centage of dry matter in wheat as compared to the total dry matter of wheat 

 and weeds was only 35.5, of flax in flax fields 30.4, of oats in oat fields 53.5, 

 and of barley in barley fields 79.5. It is noted that in a general way these 

 figures are fairly representative of the relative struggle of these crops against 

 weeds. 



Statistical data and analyses are given of pigeon grass (Setaria viridis), 

 barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galU), kinghead (marsh elder) (Iva xanthi- 

 -folia), lamb's-quarters (Chenopodiuni album), great ragw^eed (Ambrosia tri- 

 fida), and rough pigweed (Amarantus retrofiexus). 



Tabular data show analyses of weed and crop samples, comparative yields of 

 weed and crops upon plats 3 ft. square, and the fertility removed by varying 

 quantities of weeds (green weight). 



HORTICULTURE. 



Market gardening, F. L. Yeaw (New York: John Wiley & Sons (Inc.), 1915, 

 pp. VI +102, figs. 36). — A small manual on market gardening. It discusses 

 methods of propagation, preparing the soil, cultivation, harvesting, and market- 

 ing of the more common and hardy vegetables. Information is also given rela- 

 tive to soils, fertilizers, moisture requirements, seeds, germination, the prepara- 

 tion and care of hotbeds, etc. A special chapter is devoted to the location, plan- 

 ning, and care of home and school gardens. 



15419°— No. 1—16 4 



