FIELD CROPS. 437 



families of fiber plants : Hemp, ramie, stinging nettle, flax, jute, cotton, more 

 than 10 other Malvaceae, Ahroma augusta, kapok, Papilionaceae, Borraginaceae, 

 Asclepiadaceae. Apocynaceae, PJiormium tenax, yuccas, aloes, Sauseviera agave, 

 sisal, henequin, abaca, Ananassa sativa, members of Graminese, Cyperacese, 

 Typhace^Tp. Naiadaceie, and palms. 



A bibliography of 676 publications is appended. 



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

 Fanners' Bui. 3, 1910, pp. 4). — Results obtained in these experiments showed 

 that nitrogen supplied from two sources could be better appropriated by mangels 

 than when supplied in one form (sulphate of ammonia). Superphosphate gave 

 better results than any other single class of phosphates. Muriate of potash 

 gave better results than sulphate of potash, but when salt was added to the 

 complete mixture of artificials, sulphate of potash showed the slightly better 

 results. Salt added to the complete fertilizer produced an average increase 

 in yield of 3 cwt. per acre. 



" The following mixture per acre has given the greatest yield : One cwt. 

 nitrate of soda, applied as a top dressing; and 1 cwt. sulphate of ammonia, 4 

 cwt. superphosphate, i cwt. sulphate of potash, and 3 cwt. of salt, applied at 

 planting time." 



Spanish peanuts, A. H. Wright (Oklahoma Sta. Circ. 19, pp. 4)- — Notes on 

 the production and handling of the peanut crop in Oklahoma, with a list of 

 dealers in peanut machinery, are given. 



Pifine and the Southdown feed industry (Modern Sugar Planter, 43 (1913), 

 Tio. 29, pp. 2-5, figs. 4)- — This article describes the methods used in the cutting, 

 handling, and kiln drying of the pifine grass (Panicum hemitomum) , which 

 grows in abundance on the wet prairies of Louisiana. This grass, heretofore 

 considered useless, when made into hay was found to analyze 4.1 per cent 

 moisture, 8.35 per cent protein, 1.69 per cent fat, 36.36 per cent crude fiber, 

 23.28 per cent pentosans, 6.78 per cent ash, and 19.44 per cent undetermined. 

 When dried it is ground and 22 parts mixed by weight with corn-and-cob meal, 

 blackstrap molasses, and cotton-seed meal 50 : 20 : 8. 



Experiments on the germination of seeds of Poa pratensis, S. Tomka 

 (Kismet. Kozlem., 15 (1912), No. 4, pp. 618-623).— It was shown by tests that 

 these seeds germinated within a range of temperature reaching from 5 to 35° C. 



Additional knowledge on the germination of Oryza sativa, M. Akeminb 

 (Osterr. Bot. Ztschr., 63 (1913), No. 5, pp. 194-200) .—From various experiments 

 conducted in 1910 and 1911 to study the method of germination of the rice 

 kernel with regard to whether the radicle or the plumule appears first, the 

 author concludes that a healthy rice kernel presents the plumule first under 

 normal conditions, and that apparently the radicle will be presented first only 

 in an abnormally dry medium. 



Seed selection, S. L. Wright (Rice Jour, and South. Farmer, 16 (1915), No. 

 8. p, g). — This article describes 3 varieties of rice, viz. Blue Rose, Louisiana 

 Pearl, and Early Prolific, that have been produced by seed selection. These 

 varieties are of the crystal berry type, differing from the Honduras and 

 Japanese types, and are said to be heavy yielders with exceptionally strong 

 straw and of rapid, vigorous growth. 



The cultivation of rice with the help of machines, F. Main (Jour. Agr. 

 Trop., 12 (1912), No. 137, pp. 321-325; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Mo. 

 Bui. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 4 (1913), 'No. 2, pp. 209, 210).— It is here 

 noted that success has attended the mowing of weeds in rice fields under water 

 and sowing the seed directly in the field later. This avoids the labor of 

 transplanting. Cutting the weeds and reeds under water results in their 



