FIELD CROPS. 1031 



In 1908 a number of new varieties were introduced from abroad. White 

 Ligowa and Ilvitling gave prtjuiising results. The seed of tlie.se selections tested 

 above 40 lbs. i)er bushel and that of Gartons Regenerated Swedisii Select 4() lbs., 

 but 1 year's growth in Ohio brought the weight per bushel down to that of 

 noruial Ohio oats. Seed of Siberian and Joanette oats was introduced from 

 Canada in 1904 and these varieties have been grown each season to 1908, inclu- 

 sive. The results showed that this northern-grown seed gave about as satisfac- 

 tory results as similar native varieties and they did about as well the first year 

 as they did in succeeding seasons. 



The general average results of experiments with different rates of seeding 

 showed that 11 pk. of seed per acre gave the highest yield of grain, the increase 

 being a little more than needed to pay for the extra seed. Wideawake and 

 Seizure produced the most straw in proportion to grain of any of the varieties 

 reported. 



Barley and other spring grains were grown for the purpose of finding a 

 substitute for oats or winter wheat, and of the different crops so tested Oder- 

 bruck barley was apparently a close competitor of oats. A variety of winter 

 oats has been developed by the station from self-sown plants of a spring crop 

 and which went through the winter of 1905-6. In 1907 this strain of winter 

 oats yielded at the rate of 40.41 bu. per acre, as compared with 44.24 bu. for 

 spring oats. In 1908 the yield was 66.56 bu. per acre, while the average of all the 

 spring varieties tested was 01.51 bu. The first year the bushel weight exceeded 

 that of the spring varieties by 3.08 lbs. and tlie second year by 8.92 lbs. The 

 variety also ripens from 8 to 10 days earlier than the average of the spring 

 varieties. The variety will be tested further before it is recommended. 



Varieties of potatoes grown in the Central Provinces, (i. Ev.\ns ( Dfiit. Agr. 

 Ccni. I'lor. and Benir [India Bul.'\. pp. 13, pJs. 2). — The four common varieties, 

 Italian, Patna, Xaini Tal, and Deshi or Moolkhi, grown in the Central Provinces, 

 are described and the methods of potato culture practiced are discussed. 



Culture and preparation of sisal, A. Marques {Culture ct I'repamtion du 

 Sisal. Paris, 1009, pp. 97, pis. 11, figs. J/). — This book contains a description of 

 the sisal plant (Agave sisalana), together with its culture and the preparation 

 of the fiber, as observed by the author in the Hawaiian Islands. 



The soy bean: A comparison with the cowpea, C. A. Mooers (Tennessee 

 Sta. Bui. <S.i, pp. l.j-lO'i, figs. I'l). — In comparing the two i)lants the author enu- 

 merates the prominent qualities of each and points out that the cowpea is 

 preferable for planting either with corn or sorghum and generally for seeding 

 broadcast, while the soy bean appears the more valuable of the two crops when 

 grown as a grain producer, as an intensive farm crop, and as an early grain or 

 hay crop. 



The best varieties of soy beans are more certain to jiroduce high yields of 

 seed than any of the cowpeas. In 1907. Manmioth Yellow soy bean planted 

 .Tune 17 yielded 28.4 bu., and planted June 20. 26.6 bu. of seed per acre. Medium 

 Yellow soy beai\ planted ,Tuly 15 produced 20.2 bu. On the other hand. Whip- 

 poorwill cowpea r'i"<»duced 27.7 bu. of seed per acre from (he planting made 

 June 17. 1S.8 Im. from the planting June 29, and no seed from (be one made 

 July 15. 



Soy beans at the s(atiou have proved more resistant to light frosts (ban the 

 cowpea and also less sensitive to cool weather in the spring. Other jioints of 

 comparison favorable (o the soy bean are a higher protein and fat content, 

 freedom from weevil iiKncks in (be seed, (he ri|tening of the seed at one time, 

 and the ease of harvesting and thrashing the crop. 



