1919] FIELD CROPS. 533 



Maximum yields were secured by spraying at least four times during tlie 

 growing season with a 3 : 4 : 50 Bordeaux mixture to which had been added 1.5 

 lbs. of powdered arsenate of lead. An average gain of 51.6 bu. per acre, repre- 

 senting 64.2 per cent, was obtained from the use of this spray over unsprayed 

 potatoes. The labor and materials required to do the spraying were estimated 

 to amount to $7.67 per acre and the net gain to ,$47.17. Bordeaux mixture 

 alone produced an Increase in yield of 35 bu. per acre over the check, at an 

 average cost of four applications of $5.32 and a net profit of $33.22. Hand- 

 picking Colorado potato beetles resulted in an increase in yield of 8.6 bu. per 

 acre, obtained at a cost of $5.64 and with a net profit of only $4.82. On the 

 basis of close observations made during the past five years and a general 

 knowledge of insects and diseases attacking the late Irish potato crop in the 

 State, it is concluded that the potato grower may expect more or less destruc- 

 tive outbreaks each year of the Colorado potato beetle, flea beetle, early blight, 

 and tipburn. 



Directions for making and applying poisoned Bordeaux mixture are ap- 

 pended. 



Beport on the composition of potatoes grown in the United Kingdom (Lon- 

 don: Food {War) Committee, Roy. Soc., 1919, pp. 31, figs. 5). — Information is 

 presented relative to the total dry matter and nitrogen content of 227 samples 

 of six main crop and four second early varieties of potatoes and 20 samples of 

 17 miscellaneous sorts secured from 65 growers in England, Wales, Scotland, 

 and Ireland. The general average for all samples was 22.09 per cent of dry 

 matter and 0.327 per cent of nitrogen. 



Rice [in Argentina], G. S. Ito {Bol. Min. Agr. [Argentina], 23 {1918), No. 1, 

 pp. 3-123, figs. 4f). — ^The development and future of the industry in Argentina 

 are discussed in considerable detail. 



Preliminary notes on rice selection woi'k at Saigon, E. Carle {BuI. Agr. 

 Inst. Sci. Saigon [Cocliin CImia], 1 {1919), No. 3, pp. 74.-87). — The progress of 

 efforts to improve the rice crop through selection is described. Agronomic 

 data relative to a number of varieties of rice are included. 



The transplanting of rice in Egypt, V. M. Mosseki {Bui. Union Agr. Egyptc, 

 16 {1918), No. 123, pp. 21-50).— This describes the continuation during 1916 and 

 1917 of work previously noted (E. S. R., 37, p. .538). The results of the earlier 

 tests were confirmed, the conclusion being reached that seeding rice directly 

 in the field was more advantageous than transplanting from a seed bed. 



Utilisation of rice and its by-products {Bui. Imp. Inst. [So. Kensington'], 16 

 {1918), No. 1, pp. 16-2.'i). — Supplementing a previous account (B. S. R., 39, p. 

 838), this article comprises a discussion of the suitability of various kinds of 

 Burmese rice for industrial and other purposes. The profitable utilization of 

 rice straw and rice husks in the manufacture of paper is deemed doul^tful ex- 

 cept in the preparation of low grades or strawboard. 



A forage plant from the Solanaceae family, B. H. Hunnicutt {Jour. 

 Heredity, 10 {1919), No. 4, pp. 18^-187, figs. 2). — ^This comprises a rather popular 

 account of Solanum hullcdum, said to be a valuable forage crop found growing 

 wild in many parts of Brazil. 



Fertilizer experiments with sugar cane [at Tucuman], "W. E. Cross {Rev. 

 Indus. V Agr. Tucuman, 9 {1918), No. 5-6, pp. 72-85; abs. in Chcm. Abs., 13 

 {1919), No. 8, p. 885). — This describes the continuation of work along lines 

 similar to those previously noted (E. S. R., 33, p. 336) for 1915 and 1916, and 

 the inauguration of a new series of experiments with Java cane during 1917 

 and 1918 in which potassium sulphate, Thomas slag, and ammonium sulphate 

 were used alone on both limed and uulimed soil. 



