, FIELD CROPS. 831 



Report on variety tests of cotton for 1915, R. Y. Winters and V. R. Her- 

 man (BuL N. V. Dept. Agr., 37 (1916), No. 2, pp. 3-15).— On the station farm 

 near Raleigh 37 short-staple varieties ranged in yield from 926 to 1,417 lbs. of 

 seed cotton per acre, and 7 long-staple varieties from 976 to 1,297 lbs. of seed 

 cotton per acre. In this test the highest yielding strains produced a shorter 

 fiber. A comparison of five strains of Cleveltind Big Boll and six strains of 

 King showed that strains of the same variety may differ in character of plant, 

 size of boll, shape of leaf, and yield. 



In a test at Iredell farm of 21 short-staple varieties of cotton including the 

 earliest medium boll and the small-boll varieties, the yields ranged from 370 to 

 1,261 lbs. of seed cotton per acre. The yields of the different varieties and 

 strains are given in tables. 



Japanese cane, J. M. Scott (Florkla Sfa. Bui. 129 {1916), pp. 21-Jfli. figs. ^).— 

 The culture and uses of Japanese cane are discussed, and the results of culture 

 and fertilizer tests, together witli analyses and other data as to the chemical 

 composition of the crop with reference to its feeding and fertilizer value, are 

 reported. 



In the fertilizer experiments, conducted on 8 plats from 1909 to 1914, in- 

 clusive, 112 lbs. of dried blood, 72 lbs. of sulphate of ammonia, 84 Ibs.i of 

 nuiriate of sidphate of potash, and 224 lbs. of acid phosphate per acre were used 

 in different combinations. One plat received in addition in 1909, 1911, and 

 1913 an application of 2,000 lbs. per acre of ground limestone. The yields in 

 tons of green material per acre in 1909 ranged from 16.10 on the plat receiving 

 dried blood and acid phosphate to 27.03 on the plat receiving dried blood, 

 sulphate of potash, acid phosphate, and ground limestone. The yields de- 

 creased greatly from the first to the sixth year and the averages ranged 

 from 7.55 to 13.7 tons of green material per acre on the different plats. The 

 results showed in general that on the soil on which the cane was grown potash 

 was most beneficial, and nitrogen appeared to be next in importance. Ground 

 limestone acted as a temporary stimulant and no results were apparent except 

 from the first application. The method of fertilizing the soil had no effect on 

 the percentage of sucrose in the juice. 



A test of replanting cane on each of the 8 plats in 1915 gave yields of green 

 material per acre ranging from 18 to 31.9 tons. It is believed that better 

 yields of Japanese cane will be obtained by replanting every third or fourth 

 year. 



Sudan grass, C. G. Williams {Mo. Bui. Ohio Sta., 1 {1916), No. 3, pp. 67-70, 

 fig. 1). — Notes are given on the seeding, harvesting, and feeding value of Sudan 

 grass. The average yield of Sudan grass at the station for the years 1912-1914, 

 inclusive, was 4.3 tons of dry hay per acre as compared with 8.9 tons of German 

 millet. 



Manurial experiments on sugar cane, 1912-1914, J. de Veeteuil {Bui. 

 Dept. Agr. Trinidad and Tobago, 13 {1914), No. 82, pp. 227-234, pi. 1, fig. 1).— 

 These exi^eriments were conducted under the control of the Board of Agricul- 

 ture on the Brechin Castle, Esperanza, and Malgretoute estates. On each 

 estate, of the eight plats devoted to the work, the first four, constituting a 

 nitrogen series, received a complete application, the fifth plat nitrogen and 

 phosphates, the sixth nitrogen and potash, the seventh nitrogen alone, and the 

 eighth was a control. Nitrogen was applied in all cases at the rate of 45 lbs. 

 per acre, phosphates in the form of dissolved bone at the rate of 40 lbs., and 

 potash in the form of the sulphate at the rate of 28 lbs. with the exception of 

 plat 6 which received 40 lbs. In the nitrogen series, plat 1 received calcium 

 nitrate, plat 2 sodium nitrate, plate 3 calcium cyanamid, and plat 4 sulphate of 

 ammonia. 



