K1K1.I) CROPS, 1 33 



insects and diseases, ^descriptive catalogue of 270 varieties is included in the 

 volume. 



Potato growing- in New York, .1. I.. Stone i Neiv York Cornell Sta. Bui. ?28, pp. 

 i .".' $55, figs. : I.— This bulletin summarizes the data on potato culture published bj 

 the station in previous bulletins, aud presents other data accumulated Bince those 

 publications were issued. The different operations and practices in connection with 

 potato growing are discussed. 



In L903 a comparison of barn-stored wilted and sprouted seed and of solid slightly 

 started cold-storage seed showed a gain of 159 per cent in yield in favor of the solid 

 nearly dormant seed. In 1904 the Beed tubers stored from November to May in 

 crates in a cool cellar and with no sprouts started May I. wen- divided into 4 lots, 

 placed in trays, and stored in different ways from May 2 to June 7, and then planted. 

 The first lot was kept in a dark cellar at a temperature of from 50 to 60°; t lie second, 

 in a cold frame open above and with the bottom at 80°; the third, in a ham near a 

 u iin low where the temperature was a hoi it the same as out of doors; and the fourth, 

 in a greenhouse at from 80 to 90°. 



The second, third, and fourth lots gave again in yield of 35.1, 28.5, and 13.4 per 

 cent, respectively, over the first. The sprouts on the tubers exposed to light were 

 strong, dark green, and not over \ to , ; in. long, while on those stored in the dark 

 cellar they were 3 to 4 in. long, whitish and brittle, and subject to injury in planting, 

 especially if done by machinery. 



A test was made of seed pieces of 2 different sizes, the one being as large again as 



the ( >t her. The smaller pieces were as large as those frequently planted by farmers. 

 As compared with the larger pieces, the small pieces gave a yield reduced by 21.7 

 per cent on one plat and by 41.5 per cent on another. The effect of dusting the cut 

 tubers with plaster one or two days before planting was studied, by the station in 

 1903; in ."> out of 5 teststhe increase in yield ranged from 13.31 to 26.18 bu. per acre 

 on the plat planted with the treated seed. In the 2 other cases the results were 

 inconclusive. 



The culture tests carried on from 1894 to 1900 resulted in the hest yields from 7 to 9 

 cultivations. Another series of tests showed that level culture is to be preferred to 

 hilling. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture generally gave increased yields, although 

 in some seasons when no hlight appeared little effect was observed. 



The results of cooperative variety tests made in 1903 and 1 ( .hi4 are given in tables. 

 In one series of experiments Doe Pride stood tirst, in another Bovee gave better 

 returns than Irish Cobbler, and in the third Gold Coin and Wilson 1st ( !hoice stood 

 about equal. The work of potato diggers and planters is discussed, and an outline of 

 cooperative demonstrations to he made in L905, comprising different phases of faun 

 work, is given. 



Potato culture near Greeley, Colorado, .). M. Clark i U. S. P<i>f. Agr. Yearbook 

 1904, /'/'■ 311 822, figs. 6, />/. l). — The extent of the potato area near Greeley, the 

 markets, irrigation, and alfalfa culture as factors of success in potato growing, crop 

 rotation, and sheep feeding in the potato belt, the preparation of seed potatoes, and 

 the methods of growing the crop, including the application of water, are discussed. 



Observations on the influence of nodules on the roots upon the composition 

 of soy beans and cowpeas, ('. I). Smith and F. W. RoBiBON {Michigan Sta. Bui. 

 994, /'/'• 125-182). — The yield and composition were determined of roots, stems, and 

 leaves of Medium Green soy beans grown in L903 on two areas, the roots in one case 

 being practically free from nodules and in the other nearly covered with them. 

 The leaves and stems from an 8-ft row bearing nodules weighed 5,125 lbs., and from 

 a similar area without nodules 5,562 Ihs. The roots with nodules weighed 0.438 lb., 

 and those without 0.625 lh., the nodules themselves weighing only 0.16 lb. 



In 1904 this work was repeated on two plats, each containing a square rod, the 

 one being inoculated with soil from a soydtean held, and the other being left with- 



