FTELI) CHOPS. 833 



is uot alwaj's suftieieut in securing a protituble liarvest. In 1898 a good crop 

 was growu with a rainfall of 135 mm., while in 1908 with the same amount of 

 rainfall tlir croi) was an entire failure. In 1903. with a rainfall of 12.J mm., 

 and in 190r>, with a rainfall of 110 unu., the yields were as satisfactory a.s in 

 1.S98. In 19(>4. when iirecipltalion amounted to Ho nun. tlie liarvest was poor, 

 and in 19(»T. with a rainfall of V.)~t nun. it was very mediocre. 



Alopecurus agrestis, C Fkuwiutii (Arb. Dciit. Ltiiidic. (icscIL, IHOS, Xo. t3(j, 

 PI). ^0. Ills, li, fi'i/s. J). — This publication contains a botanical description of this 

 grass, a discussion of the life of the plant, and notes on its growth recpiirements, 

 distribution, intluence on other crops, and uses. 



The basis for judging brewing barley, E. Jalowetz (Wiener LamUr. ZIy.. 

 ;7.S iJ'.lUS), \(>. 7N. ii]>- 777-77J). — After discussiag the subject and reviewing 

 observations and exi)erimental results with a bearing on the subject, the author 

 concludes that the following points should be considered in judging brewing 

 l)arley : Color, odor, broken and sprouted grains, sorting according to shape of 

 the kernel, water content, nitrogen content in the sorted and unsorted portions 

 of the quantity examined, the 1,000-kernel weight, fineness of the hull, mealiness 

 or tlintiness, germination, and foreign matter. 



Comparison of plants of the field beet grown from seeds from the same 

 seed boll, II. P.kiem {FUhlUn/s Ldiidir. Ztij., .77 (WOS), \o. 20, pit. ()!)',-lWS).— 

 The weight of the seeds taken from seed bolls containing 4 or 5 seeds are given, 

 and the results of exjieriments with the different seeds from single seed liolls 

 are rejiorted. The weight of the beet and the sugar content of the same in 

 each case are recorded. The results show in general that the heavier seeds 

 produce the more vigorous and heavier plants. 



Corn culture (Texas Dept. Agr. Bui. Jf, pp. 7-116, map 1). — This bulletin con- 

 tains a series of papers by different authors on the various phases of corn 

 cnltnn' and the uses of the crop. 



Experiments on the improvement of cotton by seed selection in the Lee- 

 ward Islands, F. Watts and 11. .V, Tempany ( IV'c.s/^ Indian Bui., 9 (1908), 

 .\o. .i, pp. .i.iO-.i.i.i). — In the experiments reported selection of plants was based 

 on strength and vigor of growth, freedom from disease, and yielding capacity, 

 while the individual seeds were selected for the length, evenness, and strength 

 of fiber. Of 100 plants growu from unselected seed of selected plants, 60 per 

 cent produced a stai)le !•] to 2 in. in length. Similar selections fnun high-grade 

 and itroductive c(»tton gave in one instance 43 per cent of the fii)er from lij to 2 

 in. long and 34 per cent of even fiber over 2 in. long. In another test 34 i)er 

 cent of the tii)er itnuluced was over 2 in. long and (piite even, while 29 per cent 

 was over 2 in. long and very even. In a cooperative test seed classed under 

 c«'rtaiii grades i)roduced a crop of which SO per cent came under the .same 

 gnides as the original see<l. 



The methods of selection, including the examination of the lint, are described 

 and the results of these and other test.s, which in general show the influence of 

 selection, arc given in tables. 



Hop experiments, A. Amos (.lour. Souliira.'it. Ayr. ('al. Wi/e, 1901. .Yo. /()', 

 pp. ,U.{~J'i.'i), — The results of cooi»erative fertilizer and culture tests now in 

 jirogress for a s«'ries of years are reported. The fertilizer exiteriments showed 

 that llie hop plant re(|nires a normal ndxture of all the elements of plant food 

 and that it is uot a .special feeder on any one [tarticnlar element in i»reference 

 to another. From this It Is concluded tliat the problem cf manuring hops 

 narrows down to a study of the soil and to the appiu-ation of tht> elements 

 fiiund lacking. 



In a culture test a plat given shallow cultivation for 12 years, simply for 

 the i)urpose of keei)ing down weeds, itroduced throughout a croi) greater than 



