FIELD CROPS. D t5 



cooperative work during 1904 with Boy beans, Swedish Select oats, alfalfa, and corn. 

 Results with treating seed grain to prevent smut are also reported by a aumber of 



parties. The constitution and by-laws of th ganization and the list of members 



for L905 are given, and lessons in corn judging, with quite full discussions of the prin- 

 cipal points, are outlined. 



Agriculture in the North Central States, G. Stieger (Arb. Vent. Landw. GeselL, 

 1905, No. 104, pp. 70,Jig8. .'■'>)■ Observations on farm management and farm life in 

 the northern Mississippi Valley, mainly in Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. 



Agriculture without irrigation in the Sahara Desert, T. II. Ki:\i;\i:-> I S 

 !></>/. Agr., /•'"/•. Plant Indus. /»"/. 86, />]>. SO, pis. 5,fig. 1). — The country known :i- 

 the Oued Souf, situated in extreme southeastern Algeria, is described an- 1 it> popu- 

 lation, climate, water Bupply, soils, and date gardens an' discussed. 



The discussion on tin- date gardens includes descriptions of the methods of plant- 

 ing, care of the palms, and the harvesting of the crop. Tin- manuring oi the soil, 

 the removal of the drifted sand from the gardens, the yields secured, and the varie- 

 ties of dates chiefly grown are also considered. It is pointed oul that in the Oued 

 Souf, renowned tor the large yields of it- -late orchards ami tin- high quality of their 

 fruit, tiir typo of agriculture practiced is not dry land farming, ;i- it depends upon 

 the ground water, which in the gardens is every v\ hero near the surface of the soil. 



It is further stated that the sand hills of the region concentrate and reflect so much 

 heat that the hollows among them act as forcing houses in producing early dates. 

 While the same conditions w ith respect to ground water may not ho found anywhere 

 in the United States, it is helieved that the growing of .late- in the hollows between 

 the -and hills may he applicable to the hot arid regions of the Southwest, where large 

 -and dunes exist, and where water for irrigation is available. " It seems certain that 

 in pockets of this character excavated among the dunes the heglet Noor and other 

 valuable varieties of dates could he forced to early maturity.*' 



The ripening of grain, A. Nowack] ( /><"/. Landw. Presse, ■'• : I 1905 . Nos. • <;. pp. 

 ;.w, 492; 59, pp. 505, 506). — Theauthor concludes from numerous experiments made 

 at different times that the uneven ripening of grain is largely due to lodging and 

 abnormally heavy stooling. 



The breeding of varieties resistant to lodging by virtue of the normal structure of 

 the stem is recommended. Attention is called to t In- fact that in a normal or ideal 

 stem the internodes from the lower to the upper one increase in length and decrease 

 in strength, according to a definite law which gives to each internode the average 



length and strength of tin e immediately he low and the >ne immediately above it. 



The normal stein obtains the greatest strength and flexibility with the smallest 

 quantity of material in its structure. 



Grain is said t<> lodge when the law of the arithmetical average with reference to 

 the internodes is disturbed. This usually takes place in the second internode above 

 ground, when the length and the thickness of the individual cell walls as well as of the 

 entire internode are not in the right proportion to the length and thickness of the 

 first and third internode. To illustrate, the author states that if the length of the 

 first, second, and third internode from belovs is l. 12, and 23cm., respectively, the 

 proportion is normal, while in a case where the corresponding lengths are :». L8, and 

 19 cm. the second internode is 6 cm. too long. 



This law, applied to the :; lower internodes, is considered very important in breed- 

 ing. In selecting plants with reference to their stooling qualities the author advises 

 the choice of individuals with :;. 4. or 5 equally strong stem-, uniform in development, 

 and heading, blossoming, and ripening at the same time. 



It is stated that when the kernel of wheat, oats, barley, and rye ha- a decided 

 yellow color and a cross Bection reveals no trace of green chlorophyll, the grain is 

 ripe for cutting. Notes on the condition of grain at this stage are given, 



17541— No. »>— (Mi :; 



