526 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECOED. 



Native permanent meadow v. seeded meadow, Schubert (Wiener Landw. 

 Ztg., 63 (1913), No. 18, pp. 211-213, figs. 12). — In experiments conducted during 

 1911 and 1912 the superiority of the seeded areas showed in the marked im- 

 provement in the quality of the hay and also in the yields, which increased 

 from 83 to 175 quintals per hectare (3.7 to 7.8 tons per acre) in 3 cuttings in 

 1912. 



On the manuring of meadow hay, J. Porter (Herefordshire County Council 

 Bub. Farmer's Bui. 5 (1910), pp. 6). — The use of sulphate of ammonia alone 

 apparently favored the growth of the grasses, while phosphate and potash 

 favored the growth of legumes and depressed that of the grasses. Lime was 

 followed by a net increase in hay yields. The omission of phosphates resulted 

 in a greater loss in yields than the omission of either nitrogen or kainit. " The 

 most successful dressing used in the experiment was a medium dressing of 

 farmyard manure (10 tons) in alternate years, and during those years receiving 

 no farmyard manure a mixture of 102 lbs. sulphate of ammonia and 352 lbs. 

 superphosphate." The 5-year average of hay yields per acre ranged from 27 

 cwt. without fertilizers to 37.5 cwt. w^ith a complete fertilizer which consisted 

 of 102 lbs. sulphate of ammonia, 60 lbs. sulphate of potash, and 352 lbs. super- 

 phosphate per acre. 



Trials in seeding cereals in hills, J. Dumont (Ann. Ecole Nat. Agr. Grignon, 

 2 (1911), pp. 59-62). — Harrowing and rolling were followed by larger yields 

 with wheat than rolling alone, whether the seed was drilled with 18 cm. (about 

 7 in.) between drills, or planted in hills 10 by 25 cm., 1 kernel per hill, or in 

 hills 20 by 25 cm. with 2 kernels per hill. In another similar group of plats 

 hoed and weeded the yields were still further increased. The wheat planted 

 10 by 25 cm. with 1 kernel per hill gave the best results in each case. 



A study on causes of the difference in drought resistance between clover 

 and alfalfa, W. Sholtkewitsch (Zhur. Opytn. Agron. (Russ. Jour. Expt. 

 Landio.), U (1913), No. 3, pp. 167-180, figs. 4).— In a study of the movement of 

 water in these plants, the relation of transpiration between clover and alfalfa 

 stood as 100 : 163 and the length of the stomata as 100 : 156. The pith occupied 

 relatively less of 'the cross section of the stem in alfalfa than in clover, but 

 the number of xylem bundles was proportionately increased. The diameters of 

 these vessels were also larger than those of clover and allowed from 4 to 4.5 

 times as much water to pass through them. 



Ag-ave in the West Indies, W. Tkelease (Mem. Nat. Acad. ScL, 11 (1913), 

 pp. 299, figs. 227). — ^The author gives in tabular form an analysis of the geo- 

 graphical distribution of agave in the West Indies, and discusses the specific 

 characters of the trunk, leaves, flowers, fruit, and bulbils. A synopsis is fol- 

 lowed by botanical descriptions of 8 groups including 56 species. 



Three-year results with Turkestan alfalfa, J. Gy areas (Kiserlet. Eozlem., 

 16 (1913), No. 3, pp. 405-408). — These results showed Turkestan alfalfa to be 

 inferior to Hungarian alfalfa at the Magyar Ovar station. 



Experiments with a new form of barley, E. Schneider (Ztschr. Pfianzen- 

 zucht., 1 (1913), No. 3, pp. 301-322, figs. 3). — This describes a new form of 

 barley that appeared in Posen in 1902, the chief feature of which was a branch- 

 ing of the spikes. This characteristic proved to be transmitted with constancy. 

 The yield was somewhat in excess of the ordinary varieties, but the quality was 

 inferior. 



Thermotoxy, or factors in the growth of cotton in Egypt, W. L. Balls 

 (Rpt. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci., 1912, p. 682).— The author here notes the complete 

 arrest of growth in the bud of Egyptian cotton when the day temperature 

 reaches 35° C. (95° F.) for successive days, due, probably, to toxins being more 

 rapidly secreted than dissolved, on account of a suspension of growth processes. 



