228 EXPEBIMENT STATION RECORD. 



tests of covrpeas and soy beans. Brief discussions of less important grass, 

 leguminous, and miscellaneous forage crops are included. 



Results in yields of 2- and 3-year-old alfalfa showed very little difference 

 whether the seed bed had been prepared by plowing 7 in. deep, subsoiling 18 in. 

 deep, or dynamiting from IS to 24 in. deep. 



[Field crop experiments at the Nebraska Station] {Nebraska Sta. Rpt. 1914, 

 pp. IX-XV). — " Experiments with corn have shown conclusively that inbreeding 

 tends rapidly to dwarfing and sterilization of the plants, although some seed is 

 produced. Cross-breeding, on the other hand, between different strains which 

 have been inbred for a number of years restores vigor and vitality, resulting in 

 a normal or increased yield of corn." Data giving the results of a study of the 

 water requirements of corn show that the most fertile soil well-manured re- 

 quires less water to produce a unit of weight of either ear or total plant than 

 a more inferior soil. 



Tabulated data show the effect of variety and adaptation of water require- 

 ments of crops ; effect of the degree of exposure of the potometer upon the 

 grbwth and water requirements of com ; effect of the size of the potometer 

 upon the growth and water requirements of corn in unmanured and manured 

 soils ; the average yield of digestible nutrients of corn, wheat, oat.s, and soy 

 beans at the station during the six years 1909 to 1914 ; variety and cultural tests 

 of soy beans ; and a summary of comparative yields of corn, wheat, oats, and soy 

 beans at the station for the six years 1909 to 1914. 



[Report of the department of agronomy], R. Withycombe (Oregon Sta., 

 Rpt. East. Orcg. Sta., lUll-12, pp. 6-32, figs. 11). — This reports work covering 

 the years 1910, 1911, and 1912 in the improvement by selective hybridization of 

 cereals, grasses, and legumes, the eradication of M-eeds, and cooperative tests of 

 hybrid barleys and oats. 



It is noted that a few superior selections of hybrid barley have been produced, 

 both in point of yield of grain and production of hay. In variety tests with oats 

 Silver Jllne had an average 3-year yield of 65.2 bu. per acre, and Sixty-Day a 

 2j'ear average yield of 73.9 bu. Black-eyed Marrowfat and Canadian field peas 

 are two varieties recommended as giving the most satisfaction in a field pea 

 variety test. 



A cross between the Little Club and Fortyfold varieties produced a selection 

 of very desirable winter wheat which gave a gluten test of 53 per cent as against 

 the general wheat average of 30 per cent. A very desirable spring wheat has 

 been produced by crossing the Durum and Club varieties. A partially beardless 

 stitiin of rye was produced by crossing and selection in an effort to secure an 

 entirely beardless variety. 



Brief notes are given on cultural tests of grasses, legumes, forage, and fiber 

 plants. 



It is stated that 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 35 per cent solutions of iron sulphate 

 jirodueed no perceptible results when iised as a spray in the eradication of 

 morning-glory. The application of a 20 per cent solution of iron sulphate as a 

 spray in fields of oats and barley wilted pigweed considerably within 24 hours, 

 and retarded the growth of mustard to a considerable extent. 



The work of the Scottsbluff reclamation project experiment farm^ in 1914. 

 F. Knorr {U. S. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus., Work Srottsblujf Expt. Fann, 

 1914, pp. IS, figs. 3). — This bulletin describes weather and crop conditions on 

 this project, in Nebraska, and gives some results in yields per acre of experi- 

 ments with field crops under Irrigated conditions, in continuation of work 

 previously noted (E. S. R., 32. p. 223). 



The crops included in these experiments were alfalfa, beets, corn, flax, oats, 

 barley, potatoes, spring wheat, winter wheat, stock beets, and pasture grasses. 



