FIELD CROPS. 735 



Notes are given In regard to the cultivation of the Sunbeam variety of cot- 

 ton in various parts of the State. 



Cotton-seed selection for southeast Missouri, A. R. Evans (Missouri Sta. 

 arc. 66 {1913), pp. 2'/3-2J,6, figs. 2).— This bulletin gives directions to growers 

 for improving yields by planting their own selected seed. 



A new forage plant, A. Stolz (Amcr. Breeders Mag., Jf [1913), No. S, pp. 

 162-16-'/, fig. 1). — This describes Dcsmodiiim liirttoii as found wild in German 

 East Africa, and gives methods of propagation and improvement under culti- 

 vation and its uses as a cover and forage crop. 



Kapok or cotton silk, II. Powixl (Dept. Agr. Brit. East Africa Ann. Rpt. 

 1911-12, pp. 91, 92).-— The botanical species of this P]ast African tree has not 

 yet been determined. Experiments showed that 000 dry pods, including lint 

 and seed, weighed 40 lbs., the hand-cleaned lint 8 lbs., and the seed 13 lbs. 



Inoculation experiments with lupines, J. C. De Kuyteb De Wildt and D. 

 MoL (Verslag. Landbmiwk. Ondcrzoek. Rijkslandbouwproefstat. [Netherlayids], 

 A'o. 14 (1913), pp. 46-53, pis. 2). — Notes and data of pot experiments are given, 

 in which three commercial cultures were employed with lupines in sandy soil. 

 Irregular and unexpected results were obtained. 



Experiments in the cultivation of peanuts in British India, A. Che^'alier 

 {Jour. Agr. Trap.. 13 (1913), Ko. 146, pp. 22S-2 JO). —Methods of cultivation are 

 described, and tabulated data show yields, cost of production, and profits. The 

 two early varieties tested yielded 921 kg. and 1,062 kg. of nuts in the shell, and 

 1,905 kg. and 1,746 kg. of straw per acre, resi^ectively. The two late varieties 

 yielded 842 kg. and 1,204 kg. of nuts in the shell, and 2,685 kg. and 2,757 of kg. 

 straw per acre, respectively. 



Potato culture, A. Dickens (Kansas Sta. Bui. 194 (1913), pp. 473-491, figs. 

 4). — This bulletin discusses cultural methods for potatoes in Kansas, including 

 crop rotation, fertilizers and manures, seed varieties, diseases and insects and 

 their control, and spray materials and machinery. 



It is noted that results of experiments at the station indicate the advantage 

 of rotation of crops previous to a potato crop, and early fall plowing with 

 shallow spring plowing on heavy soil. 



Potato culture (Scot. Farmer, 21 (1913), No. 10S3, pp. 939, 940).— This reports 

 results of field tests of 11 varieties of potatoes in the vicinity of Edinburgh, 

 Scotland, in connection with the use of muck and commercial fertilizers in the 

 drill. Seven yards of 2S-in. drills gave total yields ranging from 22 to 43 lbs., 

 total numbers ranging from 132 to 461 tubers, and marketable tubers ranging 

 from 60 to 107. It is noted that a dry spray has been used with great success 

 in the production of this crop. 



The effect of ferrous sulphate on the quality and quantity of potatoes, 

 D. R. Edwaiu)es-Ker (Jour. Southeast Agr. Col. Wye, No. 21 (1912), pp. 215- 

 295, figs. 2). — This reviews the work of other investigators along this line and 

 gives results of field experiments which did not conform closely to those quoted. 

 The use of ferrous sulphate as a top-dressing on potatoes was found to give no 

 increase in yield up to f cwt. per acre of the iron salt, nor was there found 

 to be any alteration of the quality of the tubers after cooking, or in the com- 

 position of their ash after incineration. 



"As a tentative theory is advanced the suggestion that the effect of ferrous 

 sulphate is considerably affected by the amount of calcium carbonate in the 

 soil experimented upon, the larger the amount of calcium carbonate the less 

 the effect of the ferrous sulphate. This is probably due to a chemical action 

 between the calcium carbonate and the ferrous salt, whereby ferric oxid is 

 produced by oxidation more quickly than would otherwise be the case." 



A bibliography of 13 titles is appended. 



