FIELD CROPS. 231 



the soils under investigation it prodnced only ■•i])]iroximately one-half as much 

 hay as red clover. 



The flax plant; its cultivation for seed and fiber, W. Saunders (Canada 

 Cent. Expt. Farm Bui. 59, pp. 5-13). — This bulletin contains a general discussion 

 of flax culture under Canadian conditions. Particulars relating to the produc- 

 tion of dressed flax as well as the production of flaxseed in Canada are given, 

 and some of the results with flax at the different Canadian experiment stations 

 are reviewed. 



Millet, C. G. Williams (Ohio 8ta. Giro. 81, pp. 6). — The uses of millet and 

 the culture of the crop are briefly discussed and the different varieties, grouped 

 under foxtail millets (Cliwtocliloa italiea) , broom-corn millets (Panicum 

 miUaceum), and the barnyard millets (P. crus-galli) , are described. In addi- 

 tion, Pearl millet (Pcnnisetxnn .^picatum) and teosinte (Euchlcena mexicana) 

 are noted. 



The deterioration of Red Texas oats in Kansas, H. F. Roberts and G. F. 

 Freeman (Kansas Sia. Bui. J 53, pp. L'P'-lGJi, figs. 5). — Investigations were made 

 to detei'mine why Red Texas oats growing for 2 or 3 years in Kansas give way 

 to a variety having black chaff. The seed of the Red oats as brought from 

 Texas is always mixed with the black variety, but in that State the black oats 

 does not become preponderant. 



A study of the varieties shows them to be distinct. The red variety is low 

 and spreading, tends to stool, and has narrower leaves than the black oats, 

 which is upright, broad leaved, and tillers but little. In nursery plats the red 

 oats avei'aged S.6 culms and the black 7 culms per plant. The average number 

 of heads per iilant was 4 and 2.6 for the red and black oats respectively, or a 

 superiority of 54 per cent in favor of the red. In average number of spikelets 

 per head the black oats showed a superiority of 83 per cent, in the average 

 number of heads per plant of 19 per cent, in the average weight of each spikelet 

 20 per cent, and in the average total weight of spikelet per plant a superiority 

 of 43 per cent. 



In mixtures of the 2 varieties containing 25, 50, and 75 per cent of red oats 

 grown under usual field conditions, the black oats was superior by 6 per cent 

 in the number of bearing heads and by 8 per cent in the weight of the grains. 

 The black oats showed an increase in every case. Pure lots grown in 40 alter- 

 nate rows and sown in the way usual in the field yielded at the rate of 1,740 

 lbs. of straw and 19.4 bu. of grain for the red and 3,000 lbs. of straw and 47 bu. 

 of grain for the black variety. Close-pollinated plants of each sort yielded 

 seed which came true. 



While these results show that the black oats are apparently better yielders 

 than the red, it is stated that in practice the Red Texas variety is superior in 

 quality and yield and that this is largely due to the shattering in the black 

 variety. It is concluded that the black oats is an admixture in the imported 

 seed, that it does not originate from the red variety, and that pure-bred red oats 

 free from the black seed can be grown. 



Canadian field pea, A. Atkinson (Montana 8ta. Bui. 68, pp. 83-90, pis. 3). — 

 Directions for growing Canadian field peas are given and the different uses of 

 the crop are explained. According to the reports of farmers who have grown 

 the crop in Montana on a large scale yields of 29 bu. of seed per acre have been 

 secured. 



Cooperative potato experiments for 1908, W. J. Green and L. H. Goddard 

 (Ohio 8ta. Circ. 77. pp. 3). — Brief outlines of different experiments with po- 

 tatoes proposed for cooperative work with the station are given, together with a 

 blank to make application for taking part in the work. 



