734 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



The peanut, W. R. Beattie (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. JfSl, pp. 39, 

 figs. 20).— A revision of Farmers' Bulletin 35G (E. S. R., 21, p. 136), treating 

 of peanut culture, insects and diseases affecting the crop, and other topics. 



Fertilizing potatoes in 1909, N. Mazversit {Abs. in Zhiir. Opytn. Agron. 

 (Russ. Jour. Expt. Landw.), 11 (1910), No. 3, p. 421). — An application to 

 potatoes was made of 120 lbs. of superphosphate, 86 lbs. of iwtash fertilizers 

 and 86 lbs. of niter per acre. The yield from the fertilized plat was over three 

 times that from the unfertilized plat. 



Kelation of spring- harrowing to the stooling of winter rye, S. A. Kuznit- 

 SKi {Dnevn. XII. 8"iczda Russ. Est.-Isp. i Vrach. [Moscoic], No. 7, p. SO'i; abs. 

 ill Zhur. Opytn. Agron. {Russ. Jour. Expt. Landw.), 11 {1910), No. 1, pp 98, 

 99). — Five years' experiments in the Moscow government indicate that har- 

 rowing in the spring increases the average yield by poods per dessyatina 

 (about 120 lbs. per acre). The mean numbers of stems per stool on the har- 

 rowed and unharrowed plats were 2.6 and 2.2 respectively, while the per- 

 centages of larger stems were 55.1 and 49.1, respectively. 



Eeport of work with rye in 1909, E. W. Ljung {Sveriges Utsddesfor. 

 Tidskr., 20 {1910), No. //, pp. 256-258).— In a test of 19 varieties Petkus rye 

 produced the highest grain yields per acre. A table states the average yield 

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

 bushel, the date of ripening, and the relative strength of straw of the different 

 varieties. References are given to the literature of the subject. 



The importance and improvement of the grain sorghums, C. R. Ball 

 {U. 8. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 203, irp. 1,5, figs. 73).— This bulletin 

 states the location, boundaries, and general characteristics of the grain sorghum 

 belt, outlines the history of the crop, and discusses its uses as food for men 

 and animals. Suggestions for needed improvements are made under the heads 

 of drought resistance, earliness, dwarfness, productiveness, and adaptability 

 to machine handling through the elimination of pendent heads. 



The protein content ranges from 7.93 to 16.63 per cent and " high protein 

 varieties and strains can probably be readily developed by selecting for this 

 quality." Analyses of grain-sorghum kernels are reported in tabular form 

 and compared with analyses of corn, corn products, and soi-ghums compileil 

 from sources previously noted (E. S. R., 4, p. 582; 19, p. 564; 20, p. 1063). 

 Other tables of results compiled and adapted from the reports of the state 

 boards of agriculture of Kansas and Oklahoma show the acreage value and 

 yields of grain soi'ghum, kafir corn, milo maize, and corn crops for certain 

 years since 1893. 



Experiments indicate that in the Panhandle from 7 to 8 in. is the proper 

 row space for milo maize and durras, from 9 to 10 in. for Kafir corn, and from 

 5 to 6 in. (in 3i ft. rows) for kowliangs. Single plants in the drill probably 

 give better results than the same number in hills. They are more readily 

 selected and harvested and api>ear to produce fewer suckers. 



[Sugar beet culture and the sugar industry in Uruguay], J. Puxhg y 

 Nattino (Rev. Asoc. Rural, Uruguay, 39 {1910), Nos. 7, pp. Jf95-502; 11, pp. 

 893-899, dgnis. 3). — The author gives analyses of sugar cane of various coun- 

 tries, of clarification residues, and of Kleinwanzsleben sugar beet seed of the 

 season of 1909, together with data as to the weight per 100 seeds, the per- 

 centages of large, small, and medium sized seeds and of impurities in samples 

 tested, the germination percentage, and the proportions of seed balls with 

 1,.2, 3, and 4 germs each. 



The assimilation of the chief nutritive substances by beets during the 

 vegetation period, A. I. Dushechkin {Dnevn. XII. 8"iezda Russ. Est.-Isp. i 

 Vrach. [MosGOW], No; 5, 197; abs, in Zhur. Opytn. Agron. {Russ. Jour. Expt. 



