FIELD CROPS. 139 



Stock pure and describes methods that may be employed by breeders whereby 

 the purity of the seed may be maintained. It is believed that but one variety 

 of cotton should be grown in a locality, that careful rogueing should be prac- 

 ticed, and that growers' associations should arrange for pure seed production. 



Nine titles of Bureau of Plant Industry publications on this subject are 

 appended. 



Propagating cotton plants by slips, G. Gastet (Rev. Uort. Alg6ric, 6 (1012), 

 No. 5, pp. 144-1-iS, figs. 4; «&«. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome^, Bui. Bur. Agr. 

 Intel, and Plant Diseases, 3 (1912), No. 10, pp. 2164, 2165).— A method by which 

 herbaceous slips are pricked out in the hotbed or greenhouse is described in this 

 article. The plants from which the slips are taken are removed from the field 

 to the greenhouse late in the season, and profuse budding is induced. 



Cowpeas for soil improvement, A. E. Grantham (New Jersey Stas. Circ. 27, 

 pp. 4). — This gives directions and suggestions for growing the crop under New 

 Jersey conditions. 



On the value of meadow foxtail grown on peat soils and the influence of 

 the time of cutting, H. von Feilitzen, I. Lugner and E. Nystrom (Svenska 

 Mosskulfurfor. Tidskr., 27 (1918), No. 3, pp. 224-245).— Previously noted from 

 another source (E. S. R., 2S, p. 834). 



A variety test of potatoes, E. F. Gaskill (Massachusetts Sta. Rpt. 1912, 

 pt. 2, pp. 11-16). — This paper contains brief notes on tests including 371 va- 

 rieties during the past 18 years. The rate of yields ranged from 66 to 509 bu. 

 per acre. It is noted that the majority of the new varieties are inferior to the 

 old standard sorts, like Beauty of Hebron, Green Mountain, Early Rose, and 

 Irish Cobbler, and that northern-grown seed was preferable to home-grown seed. 

 [Field crop experiments], G. T. Malthouse (Field Expts. Harper-Adams 

 Agr. Col., and Staffordshire and Shropshire, Rpt. 1912, pp. 17-19). — Results of 

 variety tests of potatoes show yields as high as 6 tons 13^ cwt. per acre. 



On the use of sulphur for the prevention of potato scab and as an indirect 

 fertilizer, H. von Feilitzen (K. Landtbr. Akad. Handl. och Tidskr., 52 (1913), 

 No. 2, pp. 120-130). — Of the 5 varieties of potatoes experimented with during 

 1911, all but 1 yielded more on the plats receiving 400 kg. of sulphur per hec- 

 tare (356 lbs. per acre) in addition to normal fertilizers than on those that did 

 not receive sulphur, and the tubers were larger and better developed. Some 

 improvements in regard to the appearance of scab were noted on these plats. 



Trials with sulphur for horse beans and ray grass during 1912 are also re- 

 ported. A bibliography on the subject of sulphur for plants is appended. 



Lessons for American potato growers from German experiences, W. A. 

 Orton (U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 47, pp. 12). — The author discusses potato produc- 

 tion as carried on in Germany, with special reference to conditions in this 

 country. 



It is noted that in Germany " the acreage is more than double that of the 

 United States and the crop harvested more than 4 times our total. Of these 

 potatoes 40 per cent are fed to stock, 28 per cent are used for table purposes, 

 12 per cent for seed, 6 per cent for alcohol, 4 per cent for starch and related 

 products, and 10 per cent decay. The per capita consumption for food is 7.3 

 bu. per year in Germany, as compared with an estimate of 2.6 bu. in the United 

 States. . . . 



" We must hereafter produce enough potatoes to supply all our needs, as 

 most sources of foreign imports have been closed by a plant-disease quarantine. 

 To do this economically we should find a profitable outlet for a surplus produc- 

 tion, . . . The most promising use for culls and surplus potatoes appears to be 

 28054°— 14 4 



