FIELD CROPS. 



771 



Barley sickness of soils, A. Attekbekc; {Jour. Landw., 51 {1903), No. 2, pp. 163- 

 271). — The results (if experiments here reported indicate that for barle}^ culture the 

 moraine soil under observation, of which an analysis is given, re((uireH applications 

 of potash fertilizers in order that the supply of readily soluble jiotash compounds 

 may be maintained.' It was found that most of the northern varieties of barley are 

 not so readily affected by a lack of jiotash, and that they are able to take their 

 supply from the less soluble compounds occurring in the moraine soil. Many foreign 

 and new varieties, on the contrary, were very sensitive to an inadequate quantity of 

 readily soluble potash. A heavy application of lime on this soil was observed to 

 pnxluce the same effect on liarley as an application of potash. 



The growth of maize for ensilage, T. J. Young {Jour. Southeast. Agr. Col., 

 Wye, 1903, Xo. 1;^, pp. 40-47, fig. 1). — The culture of corn for ensilage and the con- 

 struction of silos are described and the results of a variety test of corn grown for 

 ensilage are reported. An analysis of ensilage is also given. Harvey Seed sown in 

 12 in. drills gave the best yield, nearly 23 tons per acre, followed in the order given 

 by White Horsetooth, Angel of Midnight, and Longfellow. 



Suggestions on cotton culture, W. C. Welborn {Philippine Bureau Agr., Fann- 

 ers' Bui. 9, pp. 1^, figs. S). — A Spanish edition of a popular bulletin on cotton culture. 



Hops, A. D. Hall {.Tour. Southeast. Agr. Col, Wye, 1903, No. 12, pp. 12-30).— ThQ 

 results obtained with different systems of training hops are reported, the systems 

 described, and their advantages and disadvantages summarized. The yields obtained 

 for a series of years in the college garden at Wye are given in this table: 



A comparison of difi'erent systems of training liops. 



In reviewing the advantages of the different systems the author recommends 

 planting a little wider than is usual. 



The results of fertilizer experiments in 1902 confirm previous conclusions that the 

 hop shows no special fertilizer requirements and that the subject of fertilization 

 resolves itself into a study of the soil. On clay soil at Marden and Oxted jjhosphoric 

 acid was needed, while potash was without effect; and at Farnham and Frant phos- 

 phates gave no special return, but applications of potash increased the crop. At 

 Farnham lime is especially needed, and at Selling none of the mineral plant foods 

 gave a marked result. 



Experiments at Rothamsted on the changes in the composition of man- 

 gels during storage, N. H. J. Miller {Jour. Roy. Agr. Soc. England, 63 {1902), pp. 

 135-141). — A paper reporting a second experiment on this subject (E. S. R., 13, p. 

 130). The tabulated data show that mangels stored from November to July lost 13 

 per cent of water, 21.1 per cent of dry matter, 22.7 per cent of organic matter, 21.7 

 per cent of sugar, 18.6 per cent of i)entosans, 8.7 per cent of crude fiber, and 29.5 

 per cent of nitrogen. The loss in nitrogen was almost exclusively in nunproteids, 

 but there was no indication of increased digestibility. 



