FIELD CROPS. 669 



in 1902, a wet season, 1.573 gm. It is stated that a wet season generally j^roduces 

 larger and more uniform kernels and thus reduces the percentage of husk. 



Storm King and Tartar King were the heaviest yielders in 1902, and Abundance, 

 New Market, Goldfinder, and Waverly are considered the most generally reliable. 

 Brief comparative and descriptive notes on the different varieties are given. 



Tartar King, a large-grained variety, yielded 3 bu. of grain and 2.5 cwt. of straw 

 more per acre when sown at the rate of 5 bu. than when sown at the rate of 4 "im. 

 Equal weights of black and white oats were sown as a mixture for 2 years and each 

 season the proportion of white oats in the yield was largely increased. 



Among 5 varieties of barley Invincil)le gave the most satisfactory yield in 1902 and 

 ranked second in point of quality. The results for 1901 and 1902 indicate that about 

 3 bu. of seed per acre is sufficient for barley. Treating the seed against smut gave no 

 large increase in grain but greatly improved the quality. 



The influence of lime and marl on the yield of potatoes and on their con- 

 tent of nitrogen and mineral matter, Ulbricht {Lanchv. Vers, if^tat., 59 (1903), 

 No. l-~',pp. 1-25; rtfe. hiDeut. Lanihr. Fresse, 30 [1903), No. 85, p. 7 34; Cheni. Centbl., 

 1903, II, No. 23, p. 1290). — In these experiments the plants were grown in sheet- 

 iron cylinders, sunk into the ground, for the purpose of better controlling soil and 

 moisture conditions and to make these uniform for the 34 different tests. A movable 

 protection covered the entire series of cylinders. 



Lime did not show a definite influence on the prevalence of potato scab, but the 

 use of marl slightly increased the number of scab spots. In i>ractice the author has 

 noticed that on marled soil potatoes following rye, which had received a heavy appli- 

 cation of kainit, were free from scab. 



With one exception liming and marling increased the yield of tubers in weight, and 

 also their content in dry matter. The lime as well as the marl appeared to increase 

 the yield of tops more than the yield of tubers. The proportion of dry matter in the 

 tops and tubers varied from 1:3.05 to 1:3.7, the limed and marled plats invariably 

 showing the narrower ratios. 



The plants grown in limed and marled soil contained more nitrogen in the stems 

 and leaves and a little less in the tubers than the check plants. • The nitrogen content 

 of the leaves and stems increased with the increase of magnesium carbonate applied 

 in the fertilizer. The smallest quantity of phosphoric acid was found in the tops of 

 plants grown on lime-free soil. The limed and marled soil also produced plants with 

 a higher potash content in the tops than the soil not so treated. With the excep- 

 tion of 4 tests both substances apparently decreased the nitrogen and potash con- 

 tent of the tubers. Ground limestone reduced the lime and magnesia content of the 

 portion of the plant above ground almost in proportion to the quantity applied. 

 When magnesium carbonate was used in connection with lime the quantity of lime 

 in the tops was reduced and that of magnesia increased. From this result the con- 

 clusion is drawn that magnesia may, within certain limits, replace lime in the plant 

 organism. The lime content of the tubers was only slightly increased by heavy 

 applications of lime and marl, while the magnesia ciintent remained practically 

 constant. 



A study of the soil after the plants had been produced showed that only a small 

 fraction of the soil supply of lime and magnesia had been removed in the crop. 



Sansevieria, 0. Barrett [Porto Rico Stu. Circ. 1, pp. 4)- — A discussion is given in 

 Spanish on the culture and uses of several species of sansevieria, or bowstring hemp, 

 together with brief references to the value of maguey and sisal culture for Porto 

 Rico. 



Soy bean, N. Ssemenow (Ahn. in Chem. Ztg., 27 {1903), No. 93, Repert. 21, p. 302).— 

 In jManchuria from ^ to \ of the land under cultivation is reported as devoted to this 

 crop. Southern Russia is considered well adapted to the cultivation of the soy bean, 

 which prefers a light deep soil and a dry climate. The average of 16 analyses shows 



