FIELD CROPS. 575 



The (latiiobtainc'd (Ml the sandy soil show Imt a small incrt'ase in fertilizing; con- 

 stituents (luriii<i the 4 weeks preceding full Itlooni, while the results from the clay 

 soil showed a marked ijain. 



The root surface of 1 gm. of fine roots from a sample produced on tlie sandj' soil 

 and taken April 22 amounted to 20S sq. cm. With this result as a basis, the aggre- 

 gate surface of the tine roots within the first 2 ft. of soil is calculated to be about 4 

 times the surface of the land itself. 



Clover sickness of soils, B. B. Veener, N. A. Dyakonov, and P. S. Kossovich 

 ( Tnidi Si/ez. Diieyat. Selsk. Khoz. Opuitn. Dyelu., 1901, jij). 31-41; ahs. in Zhur. Opuitn. 

 .[(jron. [.Tour. Expt. Landiv.'\, 4 (190.3), No. 4, pp- 484-4S6). — It has been observed 

 by the Shatilov Experiment Station that the yield of clover in that region, even on 

 the best farms, is low and that lands newly sown to clover give the higher yields. 

 Phosphates proved to be the most effective fertilizer for clover and the best stand 

 was obtained when sown without a nurse crop. 



In the Government of Tula pot experiments witli chernozem soil showed that 

 clover sickness really existed and that it was not exclusively due to the lack of plant 



food. p. FIREMAN. 



Maize on hill and vlei soils {Agr. Jour, and Min. Rec. [Natal], G {1903), No. 19, 

 pp. 681-692, pJ. 1). — Comparative tests of different fertilizer mixtures on corn grown 

 on hill (red loam) and flat (dark-gray clay loam) soils are reported. The results, 

 l)riefly summarized, were that lighter applications were more ])rofitable than heavier; 

 phosphoric acid was apparently the most needed single element on the hill soil; 

 nitrogen increased the growth of fodder but not of grain, and both nitrogen (nitrate 

 of soda) and potash (muriate) salts retarded germination when applied in the hill; 

 the yield of grain was increased to some extent by the use of potash; the effect of 

 fertilizers was less marked on the flat soil ; of the 3 phosphates used — superphosphate, 

 slag, and bone — the first gave the most profitable returns. 



The chemical composition of different parts of the corn kernel, C. G. Hop- 

 kins, L. H. Smith, and E. M. East [Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc, 25 {1903), No. 11, pp. 

 1166-1179, p>ls. 2). — This has been noted from another source (E. S. R., 15, p. 352). 



Thirty-fifth annual report of the Flax Supply Association for the improve- 

 ment of the culture of flax in Ireland {Belfuxf: Flax Supply J.t.svx-., 1903, pp. 

 103). — The statistics given have reference mainly to the United Kingdom, but in 

 addition statistics I'egarding the industry in different countries are briefly presented. 



The cold storage of hops, C. Armstronc} {Proc. Cold Storage and Ice Asmc, 4 

 {1903), No. 1, pp. 26-34). — A brief paper, followed by general discussion. 



Oats, Denaiffe and Sirodot {U Avoinc. Farh: J. B. BallUh'e & Sons, 1902, pp. 

 848, Jigs. 213). — This work presents at some length the description, classification, 

 and anatomical structure of the grain of French and other varieties of oats, together 

 with a consideration of the culture, composition, uses, storing, and national and 

 international commerce of the crop. In addition to the topics mentioned, insects 

 and diseases attacking the oat plant, injurious effects of weeds, cost of production, 

 financial returns, transportation, and tariffs affecting the production and the price 

 of the crop are discussed. 



Tests of oats and wheat at Uniontown in 1903, J. F. Duggar and J. M. 

 Rriieson {Alabama Canehrake Sta. Bui. 19, pp. 11).— The average results of 3 

 experiments show that fall-sown oats which received 100 lbs. of nitrate of soda per 

 acre yielded 14.75 bu. of grain per acre more than the check tests, while the plats 

 receiving 200 lbs. yielded 25.3 bu. more. I^stimating the cost of the nitrate at $60 

 per ton, the increase with 100 lbs. of nitrate was produced at a cost of 20.3 cts. per 

 bushel, and with 200 lbs., at a cost of 23.8 cts. per bushel. The oats were estimated 

 at 50 cts. per bushel. The average yield fif straw on the check plat was 1,070 lbs. ; on 

 the plat receiving 100 lbs. nitrate, 1,738 lbs.; and on the plat receiving double this 

 quantity, 2,608 lbs. per acre. 



