FIELD CROPS. 631 



of the seed is more or less injured. Data show that seed taken from warehouses 

 that had been subjected to a temperature of 57° C. failed to germinate, those 

 under normal conditions germinated 70 per cent, and those subjected to a 

 temperature of 41° germinated 63 per cent. In a second test the respective 

 values were 0°, 80°, and 81°. 



"As a result of our observations it is believed that much of the harm done to 

 blue grass seeds results from the custom of sacking the freshly gathered seeds 

 on the farm and allowing them to lie for too long a time in the sacks before 

 hauling to the warehouses, the result being excessive heating and consequent 

 loss of viability." 



Experiments with Sea Island cotton, W. N. Sands (Imp. Dept. Agr. West 

 Indies, Rpt. Agr. Dept. St. Vincent, 1914-15, pp. 4, 5). — In experiments with Sea 

 Island cotton the author notes success in increasing the number of 4- and 5-locked 

 bolls by careful selection. The percentage of 4-locked bolls in his selected plants 

 ranged from 16 to 45 and of 5-locked bolls from 0.7 to 2. 



The use of white mustard, as a green manure plant, P. Wagneb (III us. 

 Land IV. Ztg., 35 {1915), No. 58, p. 381). — In this experiment four plats were 

 used. One received fallow culture ; on another the white mustard was planted 

 after harvest and plowed under in the late fall ; on the third the soil received 

 an abundant supply of stable manure before the white mustard was seeded after 

 harvest ; and the fourth received barnyard manure and fallow culture. 



The effects of these treatments for 17 years on the spring crops of oats, rye, 

 and mangels showed the advantage of using white mustard to some extent 

 without the fertilizer, but in cases where the barnyard manure was used the 

 white mustard produced decidedly satisfactory results. This was due, it is 

 stated, to the large amount of humus added to the soil. 



Experiments with oats, F. A. Welton and C. A. Geabhaet {Mo. Bui. Ohio 

 Sta., 1 {1916), No. 2, pp. 35-^2, fig. 1). — This article reports a continuation of 

 work previously noted (E. S. R., 29, p. 36), discusses the culture of the crop, 

 reports tests with thick and thin seeding, the relation of size of kernel to 

 yield, varieties, and northern grown seed, and gives some results obtained by 

 cooperators in growing oats throughout the State. 



It is noted that the rates of seeding were varied by 1 pk. from 4 to 12 pk. 

 per acre. The best results were obtained when 11 pk. of seed per acre were used. 

 When large, small, and unscreened seeds were sown side by side the resulting 

 yields did not vary much, although those in favor of the large seed were uniform. 

 Comparisons of North Dakota and Ohio grown seed offered little encourage- 

 ment of increased yields from imported seed, but indicated that northern grown 

 seed may be used without fear of failure from lack of acclimatization. 



Further experience with Phalaris bulbosa, E. Breakwell {Agr. Gas. N. S. 

 Wales, 26 {1915), No. 6, pp. 487, 488; abs. in Internal. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Mo. 

 Bui. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 6 {1915), No. 10, p. 1340). — This notes the 

 permanency of this grass under pasturage, its drought resistance, and excel- 

 lent hay qualities. It is stated that in a region where only 10 in. of rainfall 

 fell in 16 months the majority of the P. bulbosa plants were still alive, and 

 quickly showed green shoots after each shower of rain. Various strains of the 

 variety are noted, among which that grown at the Bathurst Experiment Farm 

 is said to be much superior to others tried, often reaching a height of from 4 to 

 5 ft. 



" Dapog: " method of rice culture, S. Apostol {Philippine Agr. Rev. [Eng- 

 lish Ed.}, 8 {1915), No. 2, pp. 98-102) .—This article describes the methods em- 

 ployed in the cultivation of rice where two crops are grown the same season. 



The dapog method consists in planting the rice on a bed of finely cut straw, 

 which is placed on a layer of banana leaves spread over the surface of the seed 



