FIELD CROPS. 933 



acid, nor more than (iO lbs. of ijotasli, per acre for mangels. Both phosphate 

 and potash were better applied sliortly before seeding rather than in March. 

 It is recommended that 100 lbs. of sulphate of amnH)nia, 715 lbs. of sni)eri)hos- 

 phate. and 127 lbs. of sulphate of potash be applied at seeding time, 130 lbs. 

 of nitrate of soda when tlie croi) is thinned, and 2S0 lbs. of common salt in 

 March. 



[Variety tests with oats], L. A. Mookiiouse (Oklahoma Sta. Rpt. 1908, pp. 

 i'l, J/'), 7'). 76). — Four varieties of oats were tested in 190") and lOOO. The 

 average yields per acre were as follows: Texas Red 42.35 bu., Khersou 41.37 

 liu., Lincoln 38.07 bu., and Culberson 33.54 bu. In lOOO imi)orted Iowa seed 

 (>ats gave a yield of 2.').ir> bu. per acre. 



Culture tests with Panicum^ maximum and Paspalum dilatatum in Dutch 

 East India (Jaurh. Dipt. Laiulb. Ncdiiiund. Indlv, 1907, pp. S6, 87). — ^Plant- 

 ing I'ankiiin majimuin at different distances resulteil iu the best yields where 

 I»lants were placed 90 by 50 cm. (al)out .36 by 20 iu.) apart. As this plant 

 comes into bloom about every 2 mouths, cutting every 2 months instead of every 

 month is recommended. 



PuHpalum dilatatum in field culture gave poor results, but where sown in 

 l)eds and later transplanted satisfactory yields were secured. This grass, 

 which is a good meadow plant when sown thickly, is ranke<l next in value to 

 I'inncuin ma.riniuni. 



Report on field trials with potatoes: English, Scotch, and Irish seed, J. F. 

 r.i.ACKSH.vw {Midland A(jr. and Dainj Vol. Bui. 3, J907-8, pp. 23-2-')). — Seed of 

 rj)-To-Date and British Queen were obtained from England, Scotland, and 

 Ireland, and iu practically every case the Irish seed gave the best results. 



Report on field trials on the manuring of potatoes, T. Milburn (Midland 

 Aijr. and Dairy Col. Bui. 5, 1907-8, pp. .'i3-50). — Moderately heavy dressings of 

 farmyard u)anure up to 20 tons per acre proved profitable. Commei-cial fer- 

 tilizers alone also gave good profit when applied in moderately large dressings, 

 but not so good as when given together with tlie Itarnyard manure. Sulphate of 

 amnu)nia proved a better source of nitrogen for potatoes than nitrate of soda, 

 and superphosphate a better source of phosphoric acid than dissolved bone. 

 Sulphate of potash, according to the author, has a more beneficial effect upon 

 the potato crop than either muriate of potash or kainit. Superpliosphate at the 

 rate of 4 cwt. proved more profitable than either 2 or 6 cwt. The most profit- 

 able apijlication used with barnyard manure consisted of li cwt. of sulphate of 

 ammonia, 4 cwt. of suijerphosphate, and 1 to li cwt. of sulphate of potash i)er 

 acre. 



The " spineless" prickly pears, D. Griffiths (U. S. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Plant 

 Indus, liul. I'lO, pp. 2.'i, pi. 1, map I). — This bulletin discusses tlie origin of 

 spineless prickly pears, their habitat, and their characteristics, and gives direc- 

 tions for the treatment of cuttings, planting, cultivation, harvesting, and uses 

 of the plant. Notes are given on the temperature and nioisture recpiirements, 

 and the necessity of investigations to inci'ease hardiness is discussed. The 

 nature and origin of the prickly pears to be distributed by this Department are 

 briefly outliniMl. 



K.\|)erinients made by the author in different seasons and in different regions 

 have slmwn that under open-air conditions in the arid and semiarid States no 

 willing of tlie joints is necessary before planting the cuttings. 



Tests of sorghums, W. P. Wheelkb (New York State Sta. Rpt. 1907, pt. 3, 

 pp. 229, 230). — This article is a brief review of the work done with sorghums 

 at the station during the first 25 years of its existence. 



In ISSS sorghiinis were grown from 1(!2 samples of seed, inclndlMg almut 100 

 ilistinct varieties. This work was carried on for several years. It was found 



