FIELD CROPS. 



637 



increased yields or profits. The results of seed selection showed an Improve- 

 ment in quality and quantity of fiber. Variety tests, including seeds from 

 RussiM, are reported iu tabular form. 



Breeding- Linum usitatissimum for fiber, N. Djakonow (Trudy Biuro Prikl. 

 Bot. (Bui. Angcw. But.), 6 (1913), No. 6, pp. 56/-57^).— Results of breeding 

 flax in 1911 and 1912 iu Fskow showed (1) that the height of the plants had 

 little influence on the fiber yield; (2) that the thickness of the stem bore a 

 direct relation to the fiber yield, which increased with the size of the stem; 

 (3) that the maximum yields produced minimum waste products; (4) that 

 with parents having uniformity in thickness of stems the first generation of 

 those high in fiber content were high yielding and those of low yielding par- 

 ents were low yielding; and (5) that Fribes' method of retting with pure 

 cultures proved satisfactory. This method of retting is described. 



The growing of linseed for feeding purposes (Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 20 

 {191S), No. 5, pp. 577-585, flg. 1). — In commenting upon the growing of flaxseed 

 as a feed, a discussion is given as to the kinds to sow, the soil, rotation, manur- 

 ing, chaff, time, method, rate and depth of sowing, cultivation, harvesting, 

 threshing, and value of the straw. The yields of 22 varieties are reported 

 which range from 1,042 to 1,840 lbs. seed and from 1,0S0 to 3,492 lbs. straw per 

 acre, the length of straw ranging from 10 in. to 3 ft. 



The following table shows analyses of flaxseed grown in England from seeds 

 from different sources: 



Composition of flaxseed grown in Englwnd from different sources. 



The following reasons are given showing why the farmer should grow his 

 own flaxseed: "(1) As a feed for stock it can be grown more cheaply than 

 it can be purchased on the open market, and calves may be more economically 

 reared; (2) it allows of the profitable employment of land which, owing to 

 lateness of the season, can not be sown with spring crops; (3) in a dry early 

 season it can be removed in time to allow of a catch crop being taken." 



Report on the manuring of mangels, J. Pokter (Ilerefordshire County Coun- 

 cil Farmers' Bui. S {1012), pp. 8). — Results are reported which show that top- 

 dressing of mangels with 1 cwt. of nit-rate of soda per acre, just after thin- 

 ning, gave a handsome profit. Nitrate of soda proved more effective than 

 nitrate of lime as a fertilizer, the average yields per acre being 31 tons IGJ 

 cwt. and 29 tons 2i cwt., respectively. A proprietary fertilizer, analyzing lOi 

 per cent ammonia and 16 per cent insoluble phosphates, also proved beneficial. 

 The largest yields of mangels and the largest profits were obtained by using the 

 following mixture, applied per acre just before sowing the seed : Two cwt. 

 nitrate of soda in two top-dressings; 1 cwt. sulphate of ammonia; 4 cwt. 

 superphosphate (30 per cent soluble) ; J cwt. sulphate of potash (48i per 

 cent potash) ; and 3 cwt. salt. 



Commercial seed potato selection, D. Dean (Awer. Agr., 92 {19 IS), No. IS, 

 pp. S, 4. fig- !)• — This describes the method of selection of seed potatoes on a 

 commercial scale by the author since 1904. The yield of marketable tubers 



