236 EXPERIMENT STATION KECOED. 



meadow and pasture mixtures, orchard grass, various fertilizers, and the free 

 testing of seeds at the station. 



The seeding of alfalfa, C. B. Hutchison {Missouri 81 a. C ire. JtO, pp. 53-56). — 

 Suggestions are made for inoculation, use of lime, seeding, harvesting, cultiva- 

 tion, and the choice of soil. 



Alfalfa in New Hampshire, F. W. Taylor {'Neio Hampshire Sta. Circ. 9, 

 pp. 4). — The author discusses the causes of failure in alfalfa growing and gives 

 directions for preparing the seed bed, seeding, inoculating, fertilizing, and 

 harvesting. The feeding value and present status of alfalfa are also discussed. 



Growing' broom corn in Colorado, A. Keyser (Colorado Sta. Circ. 9, pp. 

 16). — This ciix-ular contains general information on the soils and regions 

 adapted to broom-corn growing and makes suggestions as to choice of varieties, 

 preparation of land, planting, cultivation, harvesting, tabling, cutting, sorting, 

 thrashing, handling, and marketing. 



Breeding and selection of corn, F. W. Taylor {New Hampshire Sta. Circ. 

 10, pp. 8, figs. 2). — Full directions are given for the purpose of enabling the 

 farmer to conduct ear-row work for the improvement of corn. 



The value of first-generation hybrids in corn, G. N. Collins {U. S. Dept. 

 Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 191, pp. i/5). — -The author discusses the vigor of 

 hybrids as a factor of production and the habits of the corn plant with reference 

 to hybridization, and reviews previous experiments with first-generation hybrids, 

 conducted by W. J. Beal ° and others, in part already noted (E. S. R., 4, pp. 

 134, 904; 6, p. 29; 22, pp. 3G, 41). 



The author gives a brief account of 16 hybrids secured by crossing American 

 varieties with a new series of types of corn from China, Africa, and the Ameri- 

 can Tropics. The height, yield, and character of ear of each of the hybrids 

 and their parents are reported. The average percentage increase in yield of 

 14 of these hybrids over the averages of the parents is 53. A small Chinese 

 variety averaging 0.39 lb. per plant was crossed on 5 varieties which averaged 

 0.764 lb. per plant. The average yield of the 5 hybrids was 1.004 lbs. per 

 plant. The increased yields reported in the earlier work reviewed ranged from 

 4 to 95 per cent with a loss of 8 per cent in one case and no difference in 

 another. 



The work reported is regarded as indicating that corn needs the stimulus 

 of crossing to produce maximum results. Close breeding tends to reduce vigor 

 and yields. Raising hybrid seed requires no special skill or large increase of 

 labor, and may render possible an extension of corn gi-owing to large areas 

 where it is now precarious. The advantages of crossing are equally applicable 

 to sweet corn improvement. Plans are suggested for testing corn hybrids and 

 for producing hybrid seed on a commercial scale at a central location, as the 

 hybrid need not be produced in the locality in which it is used as seed. 



Corn cultivation, C. P. Hartley {TJ. 8. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 41h PP- 

 32, figs. 25). — The author discusses the possibility of increasing the yield by 

 seed improvement, care in the selection of land for corn, attention to the 

 absorption and retention of soil moisture, and the prevention of washing. Im- 

 provements are also suggested in fertilization, rotation, depth and methods of 

 plowing, and cultivation and planting. Different types of cultivators are dis- 

 cussed. Frequent references to the literature of the subject are given. 



The seeding of cowpeas, M. F. Miller (Missouri Sta. Circ. 39, pp. 49-52, fig. 

 1). — This deals with varieties of cowpeas, time and methods of seeding, harvest- 

 ing, and thrashing, and the adaptability of the crop to growth with corn. 



^ Rpts. Michigan Bd. Agr., 1876, p. 206 ; 1877, p. 56 ; 1880. pp. 287, 288 ; 1881- 

 1882, p. 136 ; see also Ann. Rpts. Purdue Univ., 1881, p. 87 ; 1883, p. 72. 



