57s EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Wild rice; its uses and propagation, 1*1 Brown ami C S. Scofiki.i) ( [\ S. Dc/it. 

 Atjr., Jiiiiran of J'lant InduMrii Bnl. r>0, pp. '^4, pi>^- 7). — This bulk'tin discusses tlie 

 distribution and hal)itat of wild rice, tofjether witli its life history and natural pnjpa- 

 ^ation; gives the botanical description and a discussion of the ji;eneral morphology of 

 the plant; notes the methods of harvesting the seed and j)rei)aring it for food purposes; 

 and presents suggestions for harvesting, storing, and jilanting. In the consideration 

 of the food value of wild rice its chemical composition is compared with thi' chemical 

 composition of a number of coiiimon cereal grains. Analyses furnished l)y the Bureau 

 of Soils of this Department, of soil samples taken from wild rice beds near Bemidji, 

 Minn., on the Potomac Flats near Washington, I). ('., and from Chesapeake Beach, 

 I\Id., are reported. 



Measurements of wild-rice seed obtained from the Potomac River, Port Hope, 

 Ont., and Minnesota, were made by the authors to show the difference in size of 

 seeds from different regions. The northern-grown seeds were found to be larger and 

 much thicker than the seeds from the Potomac. The results of a series of experi- 

 ments, partly cooperative, seem to indicate "that wild rice can be successfully grown 

 from seed either by sowing the fresh seed as soon as it is gathered or Ijy keeping it 

 in water over winter and sowing in the spring." 



Report on the agricultural work in the botanic gardens and the govern- 

 ment laboratory for the year 1902-3, J. B. Harrison ( Georcjetovn, British Guiana: 

 Govt. Priiitt')', mos, pp. 40). — The results of culture tests of seedling sugar canes and 

 of older varieties are reported. The areas occupied by various seedling varieties in 

 1902 and 1903 and the number of plantations on which each kind was in cultivation 

 are given in a table. The composition of the soil samples from fields u.sed in this 

 connection is also given. The general deductions from fertilizer experiments in 

 progress since 1891 are similar to those previously noted (E. S. R., 15, p. 857). 



The Estate Brody, E. Weiss {Mitt. Landw. Inst. Univ. Breslau, 2 (1903), No. 3, 

 pp. 437-510). — The management of an estate devoted to the production of crops in 

 connection with keeping comparatively little live stock is outlined. The cultivation 

 of different crops, the treatment of the different kinds of soils, the rotations followed, 

 the methods of applying fertilizers, and the system of })ookkeeping used are described. 



The world's grain production in 1903 (7>;> Gcireidejirodnktion der Welt im JaJtre 

 1903. Budapest: Min. Agr., Hungary, 1903, j)p. tW). — Statistics for 1903 of the grain 

 production of the world by countries, as published by the Hungarian ^linister of 

 Agriculture. 



The geographical distribution of grain prices in the United States from 

 1862 to 1900, T. H. Engelbrecht {Die GeograjMscheVerteilung der Getreidepreisein 

 den Vereinigten Staaten von 1S62 his 1900. Berlin: Paid, I'arey, 1903, j)p. lOS, pis. S). — 

 The fluctuations in the prices of wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, buckwheat, potatoes, 

 and hay in different sections of the United States from 1.S62 to 1900 are discussed and 

 shown in tables and graphical illustrations. 



Report of the [Queensland] secretary for agriculture, 1902-3, D. Denham 

 {(Queensland Agr. .roar., 13 {1903), Xo. 5, pp. 375-393, pi. 1). — This report includes 

 statististical information regarding the production of field crops in (Queensland. 



Season and crop report of Bengal for the year 1902-3, S. L. Maddox {Cal- 

 cutta: Dept. Land Records and Agr., Bengal, 1903, pp. XXXIII). — T^e character of 

 the season is described and detailed statistics of all the important crops of the country 

 are given in tables. 



HORTICULTURE. 



Report of the horticulturist, C. P. Close {Delaware Sta.Bj^f- 1902, pp. 89-108).— 

 The subjects considered in this report are the value of spring ai^plications of nitrate 

 of soda for asparagus; thinning experiments with apples and peaches; pollination 

 experiments with pears, peaches, and apples; root forcing of fruit trees; orchard 

 cover crops; and notes on the station orchard. 



