FIELD CROPS. 535 



FIELD CROPS. 



Farm crops, C. W. Burkett {New York, 1910, pp. XI+272, pis. 7, figs. 66).— 

 The author devotes several chapters to the relation of crops to soils, rotations, 

 preparation of seed bed, cultivation, and plant breeding. Other chapters sug- 

 gest the best crops for feeding different classes of animals and for forage 

 succulence, silage, and soiling. Nearly two-thirds of the work is devoted to a 

 final chapter on the production of individual crops. Alphabetical arrangement 

 is used here. The text and illustrations are entirely instructional in character. 



[Preliminary test of dry farm cropping, and tests of oats, wheat, and 

 barley,] L. B. M'Wethy and J. D. Towab (Wyomdng Sta. Rpt. 1910, pp. 39-43, 

 Jf9, 55). — These pages give a brief progress report of plant breeding work with 

 alfalfa and cereals. 



Many imported alfalfa seeds " failed entirely either to germinate or to with- 

 stand the winter," but many others give promise of success and superiority 

 over the common alfalfas. In a test of 14 oat varieties Lincoln and New Mar- 

 ket produced the highest yields of 88.5 and 82.3 bu. per acre, respectively, and 

 were among the earlier maturing varieties used. In milling and baking tests 

 of Medeale and John Brown spring wheats and Turkey Red winter wheat, the 

 flour percentages were 65.6, 64, and 6S.8, respectively, the bran percentages 

 8.5, 14.8, and 23.4, the shorts percentages 23.1, 14.1, and 6.2, the percentages of 

 loss in milling 2.8, 7.1, and 1.6, the wet gluten percentages 21.6. 44.4, and 34.8, 

 and the loaf volumes 98, 158, and 115 cu. in. 



Hail and frost necessitated the cutting of the barley crop for hay. The 

 check plats and those to which nitrate of soda were applied at the rate of 300 

 lbs. per acre yielded 2,457 and 4,918 lbs. per acre, respectively, on fall plowed 

 land and 1,944 and 4,286 lbs. on spring plowed land. 



In a test of dry farming methods emmer sown at the rate of 30 lbs. per acre 

 appeared promising, but was largely destroyed by gophers. Spring rye, durum 

 wheat, and Colorado No. 50 spring wheat sown at the same rate yielded 6.4, 9, 

 and 8.1 bu. per acre, respectively, while Kherson oats yielded about 30 bu. per 

 acre. Strawberry potatoes 91 bu., and field peas 7.2. 



Imperial Valley settlers' crop manual, J. E. Coix and W. E. Packard {Gall- 

 ■fornia Sta. Bui. 210, pp. 139-253, figs. 55). — Discussions of the weather condi- 

 tions, soils, irrigation problems, insect pests, and plant diseases in the Imperial 

 Valley are followed by suggestions for the growing of 91 fruit, field, and garden 

 crops. The crops are arranged alphabetically, and each is given a separate 

 discussion. Weeds and ornamental plants are also dealt with. 



[Experiments with summer crops], G. Valuer {Agr. Gaz. N. S. Wales, 21 

 {1910), No. 10, pp. 829-835, pi. 1). — The author reports the results of variety 

 and manurial tests on 36 farms of corn, cowpeas, and sorghums. American seed 

 corn supplied by this Department was used. 



[Variety and manurial tests with, cane, rice, and cotton], J B. Harrison 

 {Rpt. Expt. Agr. Work Dept. Sci. and Agr. [Brit. Guiana^, 1908-9, pp. 1-15, 

 21-21). — The author gives a progress report for the period from April 1, 1908 

 to December 30, 1909, in which he states the weather conditions and rainfall 

 during the period. 



Trouble with damping off of sugar cane seedlings in rainy weather was 

 largely obviated by using water containing 2 oz. of nitric acid per gallon. The 

 average returns of over 6 crops of White Transparent and B 147 were 2.79 and 

 2.63 tons of sugar per acre, respectively. Fields that have grown Bourbon con- 

 tinuously since 1891 will only with difficulty produce this variety now. Its 

 average yield of cane during 1905-1908 after D 78 was 22.5 tons per acre as 



