742 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD, 



[Analyses of barley] (Wchnschr. Brmi., 25 (1908), Nos. 3 J,, pp. /,89-^92; 

 36, pp. 517, 518). — Descriptions of 61 samples of barley, including 9 from 

 Bohemia and Hungary, the rest being of German origin, are given and their 

 analyses tabulated. The descriptions have reference to the kernel only. The 

 analytical data include moisture content, protein content, 1,000-grain vi^eight, 

 and the percentages of three different grades of kernels separated with sieves 

 of 2.8, 2.5, and 2.2 mm. mesh. 



Breeding agricultural plants, C. Fruwirth (Naturw. Ztschr. Forst u. 

 Landic, 6 (1908), No. 9, pp. -}^ 9-^68). —This article, the fifth of a series on 

 the breeding and improvement of certain agricultural plants, treats of the 

 fodder beet and jiresents the I'esults of breeding experiments conducted with 

 this crop. 



Covered single flower clusters and single l)ranches of the flower-bearing 

 parts set seed, but the seed bolls produced were lighter in weight than those 

 grown under natural conditions on parts approximately of the same vigor. 

 Covered flower clusters as conu»ared with those developing in the open on the 

 same part of the plant produced a smaller total weiglit f»f seed bolls, a smaller 

 proportion as based on the number of flower clusters of well-developed seed 

 bolls, and a larger proportion of poorly develoi)ed or dwarfed seed bolls. A 

 number of well-developed fruits produced under cover yielded fewer plants 

 than the same number produced in the open, and these plants under field 

 culture also showed a lower average weight in the root and in the leaves. 

 The weight of the seed bolls was found to increase rapidly from that part of 

 any branch where blossomiug begins and to decrease gradually toward the 

 top where the bolls are light and small. 



The heaviest seed boll on an upper branch was found to be lighter in weight 

 than the heaviest boll produced on a lower branch. Selection of seed bolls 

 according to their size gave in general the same results as selection according 

 to weight. The largest seed boll, however, is not necessarily also the heaviest. 

 The heavier bolls as a rule furnish the heavier seed. Culture exi)eriments 

 with light and heavy seed bolls did not show a definite relation between the 

 weiglit of the seed boll and the weight of the beet produced, but it was ascer- 

 tained that the heavier seed bolls produced a greater number of plants than an 

 equal number of lighter seed bolls. 



In crossing experiments the first genei'ation in some instances showed varia- 

 tions in form and the influence of both i)arents was apparent. The spherical 

 shape appeared dominant over the cylindrical form, pear shape over olive 

 form, and scantiness of foliage over abundance of leaves. 



Securing a stand of clover on the southern Iowa loess, E. B. Watson 

 (Proc. Iowa Acad. HcL, 14 (1907), pp. 177-186). — A study was made of the 

 influences governing the germination and early growth of clover on the loess 

 and tilled soils of southern Iowa and of the action of manure on clover. The 

 matter of securing a stand has been discussed in Bulletin 98 of the Iowa 

 Station (E. S. R., 20, p. 2.30). 



Experiments with horse, cattle, and mixed manures applied in pot culture 

 tests in sterilized and unsterilized condition showed that sterilization had not 

 lessened the benefit derived from the manure. Several tests of this kind were 

 made, and from the results obtained it is concluded that the inoculation of 

 this soil by means of manure is not necessary in alfalfa or clover growing. 

 The results indicated that the bacteria in the manure had nothing to do with 

 the growth of the clover, as this crop grew .iust as well without them. 



In making a count of the number of bacteria in the soil treated in different 

 ways it was found that the soil treated with manure contained a much greater 

 number of bacteria than the check tests. It was thought that if the presence 



