FIELD CROPS. 235 



A new earth nut, O. W. Barrett (Philippine Agr. Rev. [English Ed.}, 6 

 {WIS), No. 2, pp. 104, 105). — It is noted that this new nut has been discovered 

 In West Africa and is known as Voandzeia poissoni, or Kenstingiella geocarpa. 



Xenia in wheat, L. Blaringhem (Gompt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 156 

 (1913), No. 10, pp. 802-804, fig. i).— The author describes a hybrid that ho pro- 

 duced and which, it is claimed, showed the influence of the pollen in the size 

 and shape of the caryopsis and in the morphological characters of the albumin. 

 Tabulated measuremouts of kernels are given. 



Notes on wheat, J. Gascon (Bol. Agr. T6v. y Econ., 2 (lUlO), No. 22, pp. 

 373-382; 3 (1011), Nos. 25, pp. 86-91; 35, pp. 1041-1048; 4 (1912), No. 41, pp. 

 IO35-IO4I, pis. S). — These reports give the results of variety tests and other 

 data on the measurements of wheat, barley, and oats grown in 1910-1912 in 

 Spain. Improvements in yields and conditions in general are noted from year 

 to year, especially with foreign introductions. 



In 8 varieties of wheat grown in 1912 the average length of heads ranged 

 from 9.4 to 16.3 cm. The weight of 10 heads ranged from 15.6 to 2S.5 gm. ; the 

 average weight of individual heads from 1.56 to 2.85 gm. ; the weight of grain 

 from 10 heads of each variety, from 11.7 to 20.6 gm. ; the number of kernels per 

 head, from 29.5 to 49.4 gm., and the weight of 1,000 kernels, from 36.8 to 53.95 

 gni. The volume of 1,000 kernels ranged from 28.8 to 41.5 cc. ; the volume of 1 

 liter, 525.4 to 681.7 cc. ; the specific gravity from 1.25 to 1.62, and the number 

 of kernels per liter from 16.137 to 22,746. The number of kernels per kilogram 

 ranged from 18,533 to 27,548, and the weight of 1 liter of kernels from 824.6 to 

 880.2 gm. The yields of wheat per hectare ranged from 2,366 to 3,351 kg., and 

 barley from 3,987 to 4,100 kg, Oats yielded 2,115 kg. 



Results of fertilizer experiments with wheat, barley, and oats, and the an- 

 alyses of wheat flours for 1912 are given in tabular form. 



Observations on stooling- in cereals at the Poltava Experiment Station, 

 P. Leshchenko (Khutorianin, 1911, No. 4O; abs. in Zhur. Opytn. Agron. (Russ. 

 Jour. Expt. Landio.), 13 (1912), No. 3, pp. 4^8, 475).— Eight plants of winter 

 wheat and 10 of spring wheat were selected and placed under observation, the 

 time of appearance of the heads of each stem being noted in order to determine 

 the relation to yield. 



From the collected data it appears that the later the heads formed and de- 

 veloped the less was the yield. Determinations were made of the length and 

 weight of each head and of the weight and number of kernels of each head. 

 The author further observed that plants in cases of intense stooling lost enor- 

 mous quantities of energy in producing barren stalks. None of the plants with 

 an average of 20 stalks had more than 12 stalks which produced heads. 



Determination of the germinative ability and germinative streng-th of 

 seeds, W. Oetken (Deut. Landiv. Presse, 40 (1913), Nos. 24, pp. 287, 288; 25, p. 

 305; 27, pp. 329, 330; 28, p. 337, figs. 2).— The author first sets forth the diffi- 

 culty of getting results with germination tests in the laboratory which corre- 

 spond to field results with exactness, because of the " artificial " seed beds and 

 other "artificial" conditions commonly used in the laboratory. It is noted 

 thatv to secure the desired results with seed germination, tests must be con- 

 ducted with the 4 following points in view : To secure natural temperature con- 

 ditions in order to promote rapid germination ; to secure uniform resistance to 

 vegetative energy; to cover a definite period of growth so as to determine the 

 rate of development of the seedlings by weight of dry matter produced ; and to 

 determine the degree of health of the seedling as soon as it appears. 



