FIELD CROPS. 735 



Landw.), 11 {1910), No. 1, pp. 1^1, i7/2).— Beets were grown with and without 

 applications of phosphoric acid and examinations made at 10-day intervals. 



It was found that the increase in total weight proceeded uninterruptedly 

 almost to the end of the experiment. The growth on the fertilized soil was 

 completed earlier and the weight was greater, while the leaves completed their 

 growth earlier and the roots later. In the first period of growth the weight 

 of leaves predominated, later that of the roots. The percentages of dry matter 

 and sugar both increased, but the percentages of ash, nitrogen, potash, and 

 phosphoric acid decreased. Their absolute amounts show that the assimilation 

 of ash. nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid proceeds with the growth in total 

 weight and is completed somewhat earlier than that of dry matter. 



[Relation of early and late planting- of sugar beets to premature shoot- 

 ing and to the harvest], P. Schubart {CentM. Zuckerinclus., 19 {1910), No. 12, 

 pp. 359, 360). — The author reviews and discusses his own and other published 

 work on the breeding of beets that do not shoot during the first season. 



Svalof Extra- squarehead II, H. Nilsson-Ehle (Sveriges Utsddesfor. 

 TidsJcr., 20 {1910), No. 3, pp. 1^-167, pi. 1; ahs. in Bot. CenthL, llh {1910), No. 

 49, pp. 606, 601). — This variety of wheat is a hybrid of Extra-squarehead and 

 Grenadier II, which has proved especially adapted to southern Sweden, It 

 possesses the cold and rust resistance of Extra-squarehead and the high yield- 

 ing qualities and stiffness of straw of Grenadier. In other qualities, it is inter- 

 mediate between the parents. Tables state the results of tests at Svalof, 

 Alnarp, and other points, in comparison with the parents and two other 

 squarehead wheats. 



Work with wheat and oats at Svalof, 1909, H. Nilsson-Ehle {Sveriges 

 Utsddesfor. Tidskr., 20 {1910), No. 6, pp. 332-353) .—The work reported in- 

 cludes tests of improved strains of winter and spring wheat and of oats. 



In a test of 19 winter wheat varieties, llenoldad Grenadier produced the 

 highest yield of grain per acre. A table states the yields of grain and straw 

 obtained on 3 plats of each variety, the weight per thousand kernels and per 

 hectoliter of grain, the date of ripening, and the cold resistance of each variety. 

 In a test of 4 varieties during 1906-1910, Extra-squarehead II produced the 

 highest average yield, but in 1910 it was excelled by the hybrid of Grenadiei 

 and a strain of Kottehvete. In a test of 12 spring wheats, a variety from 

 TangSbohuslan produced the highest grain yield, while in a test of 25 oat 

 varieties Probsteier 0318 produced the highest yield. 



The author includes references to the literature on the subject. 

 / The sulphur bleaching of commercial oats and barley, L. M. Smith ( U. S. 

 Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Circ. 74, pp. 13, figs. ^).— The author discusses 

 the methods used in sulphur bleaching. Every sample of oats so bleached had a 

 higher moisture content after bleaching. The increase was not constant because 

 of different methods of operating the various bleachers and difference in the 

 quality and condition of the grain before bleaching. The average moisture con- 

 tent before bleaching was 11.38 per cent as compared with 13.17 per cent after 

 bleaching, and every sample showed some increase. The loss of moisture " due 

 to evaporation in handling between the bleacher, the elevator, and the car " was 

 0.50 per cent. The average weights per bushel before and after bleaching were 

 27.46 and 26.12 lbs. respectively. This decreased weight per bushel was insuf- 

 ficient to prevent oats from being given a higher grade because of their im- 

 proved appearance. 



Tests with culture media, made by Mrs. Flora W. Patterson, indicate that the 

 number of species of fungi growing on oats and barley were greatly reduced by 

 bleaching. " Their growth is not only greatly retarded* but it is in no instance 

 so luxuriant, even with the same species, as in the cultures made from the un- 



