FIELD CROPS. 439 



local adjustment " are not likely to interfere seriously with the extensive 

 utilization of selected types possessing a high degree of prepotency." 



The author presents tables showing the average price per pound of good fair 

 Egyptian and middling Upland cottons on the Boston market during the first 10 

 months of 1909, and of middling Upland and 4 grades of Egyptian cotton during 

 the succeeding 9 months. Frequent references are given to other publications 

 of this Depai"tment. 



Correlation between the long'itudinal diameter of potato tubers and their 

 starchiness, M. D. Renski (Ehoziaistvo, 1909, No. JfO; abs. in Zhur. Opytn. 

 Agron. {Russ. Jour. Expt, Landw.), 11 {1910), Xo. 2, p. 228). — Results of 

 many years' observations at the Poltava Experiment Field show an average 

 starch content of many varieties with long tubers of 18.5 per cent, while that 

 of the varieties with spheroidal tubers during the same long periods was 23.5 

 per cent. 



The soy bean; history, varieties, and field studies, C. Y. Piper and W. J. 

 Morse {U. 8. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 191, pp. 8-'/, pU. 8).— The 

 authors give a botanical history of the soy bean and state the classifications of 

 Martens and Harz on the basis of seed color and shape of pod respectively. 

 They regard these classifications as of little value. The varietal characteristics 

 of soy beans are stated, the varieties introduced into the United States before 

 1898, or independently of this Department, enumerated, European and Asiatic 

 varieties briefly dealt with from the historical standpoint, synopses of the 

 groups and varieties given, and a full catalogue of soy-bean varieties presented. 

 Full references to the literature of the subject are given. 



Experimental work reported indicates that on one occasion a minimum tem- 

 perature of 27° F. killed the majority of the late varieties, but that the Rice- 

 land and Barchet varieties retained about 50 per cent of the leaves and all of the 

 pods. No. 20798E, derived from Barchet, retained 70 per cent of its green leaves 

 and had no pods injured. In a variety trial at ]Muskegou. Mich., the Guelph, 

 Ito San, and Ogemaw varieties proved quite frost resistant. The work of 

 Haberlandt at Vienna indicated that successive plantings at intervals of a week, 

 from March 31 to June 9, resulted in crops with decreasing life periods and 

 total heat requirement up to time of germination, blossoming, and maturity. 



Similar data obtained at the Tennessee Station (B. S. R., 20, p. 1031) and at 

 the Arlingtoii, Experimental Farm are presented in tabular form. Twenty-eight 

 A arieties were tested at the latter point during 1905-1909, of which the Ogemaw 

 variety matured in 88, 102, 105, and 112 days respectively in 1905, 1907. 1908, 

 and 1909. No variants have ever occurred in this variety. These conclusions 

 agree with some drawn from work already noted (E. S. R., 18, p. 1122). Lim- 

 ited data indicate that Butterball also became later at Arlington or earlier at 

 the Minnesota Station, but that no change occurred in Buckshot or Manhattan. 

 A table presents full data on this point and indicates the source of seed in each 

 case. 



The bagging of 30 plants, representing 10 varieties, indicates that the soy-bean 

 flower is completely self-fertile. Cross pollination would be frequent but for 

 the abundant self-pollination soon after opening. The percentage of hybrids 

 found is very small but the color of heterozygote seed is often unstable. Tables 

 present the variations in hybrid soy-bean plants and their progeny at Arlington 

 with reference to life period, color of seed, and pubescence. Trenton is cited 

 as a brown-seeded variant from yellow-seeded Mammoth, but otherwise undis- 

 tinguishable from it. Riceland proved exceedingly variable in 1908 at Biloxi, 

 Miss. " The seed was saved from individual plants showing the most striking 

 variations and the resultant plants of each in 1909 were uniform." 



85408°— No. 5—11 4 



