FIELD CROPS. 233 



country, and describes at greater length the Italian culture of the crop. The 

 relation of hemp culture to farm management, farm labor, and export trade 

 is also dwelt upon, and types of machines used in the different processes of 

 preparing the fiber for market and for use are described. 



New cover crop, F. G. Spring {Agr. Bui. Fed. Malay States, 1 {1912), No. 1, 

 pp. IS, 14)- — This describes the horse gram (Dolichos hiflorus), gives directions 

 for its cultivation, and discusses its value as a cover crop for rubber planta- 

 tions. Its chief value for this purpose lay in choking out weeds. 



The Italian millet (Setaria italica) in Bengal, E. J. Woodiiouse and A. C. 

 Ghosh {Dept. Agr. Bengal, Quart. Jour., 5 {1912), No. 4, pp. iS0-i86).— De- 

 tailed descriptions of several varieties of this millet are given, also the results 

 of head selection during one season's work. It is noted that this crop seems 

 well suited to Bengal conditions, producing yields when maize fails. 



Philippine kapok: A promising new industry, M. M. Saleeby {PliiUppine 

 Agr. Rev. [English Ed.], 5 {1912), No. 8, pp. 4^2-// .37). —This paper gives brief 

 notes on the export trade of kapok in Java, the Philippines, and Dutch East 

 India, and on the yield, value, and uses of the crop and its prospective cultiva- 

 tion in the Philippines. 



Potato breeding, C. Fkuwirth {Dent. Laiuhv. Presse, 39 {1912), Nos. Ifi, 

 pp. 551, 552; 4S, pp- 565-567, figs. 4)- — The author here relates his experience 

 in hybridizing potatoes. Hand fertilization of the flowers proved unsuccessful. 

 From a study of the plants produced from seed which was obtained from the 

 balls produced by accidental crossing, or self-fertilization, it is noted that the 

 offspring seldom, if ever, resembled the mother plant; that the long form was 

 dominant over round ; and that the red skin color of the tuber, the lilac color 

 of the flower, and the yellow color of the tuber flesh were respectively dominant 

 over white. 



Notes on the propagation of Rhodes grass for hay, H. F. Hungerford 

 {Philippine Agr. Rev. [English Ed.], 5 {1912), No. 8, pp. 438-443, fig. i).— This 

 paper suggests methods of propagation, 'irrigation, harvesting, and baling of 

 Rhodes grass {Chloris gayana) for trial in the Philippines in the production of 

 this grass for hay. 



Selection of seed rice based on transparency, C. Crevost {Bui. Econ. 

 Indochine, n. sei\, 15 {1912), No. 96, pp. 388-392, figs. 2).— This article describes 

 the method employed in seed selection of rice by passing before the rays of a 

 lamp. Numerous varieties were thus selected and a maximum of 47 per cent, 

 a minimum of 11.4 per cent, and an average of 22.3 per cent of inferior kernels 

 were detected. Certain samples weighed 570 gm. per liter before selection and 

 620 gm. afterwards. 



A description of the apparatus employed in this selection is given. 



Data concerning varieties of rice, C. M. Conner {Philippine Agr. Rev. 

 [English Ed.], 6 {1913), No. 2, pp. 86-92, figs. 4).— This paper records a con- 

 tinuation of work already mentioned (E. S. R.. 2S, p. 535), in which 279 varie- 

 ties of white lowland rice grown in Indo-China were compared with a like 

 number of lowland varieties grown in the Philippine Islands. 



The greatest number of varieties matured within 6 months from sowing and 

 the time to maturity had no relation to yield. It was found that the number 

 of grains per head was in inverse ratio to the size of the grain, and that the 

 size of the grain had little influence on yield. A distinguishing characteristic 

 of the upland rice was that its average length and width of leaf was 41 and 20 

 per cent, respectively, greater than that of the lowland varieties. 



Salt water rice, C. M. Conner {Philippine Agr. Rev. [English Ed.], 6 {1913), 

 No. 2, p. 97). — Tests showed that a variety of rice found growing in sea water 

 produced as well when irrigated with this water as it did with fresh water. 



