FIELD CROPS. 755 



results than tubers cut in 2 or 3 pieces, and the larger cuttings produced heavier yields 



than the smallar ones. 



Thousand Dollar and Banner, both Canadian varieties of oats, ranked first in tin- 

 average yields of grain and straw for 3 years. In a rotation test the besl effeel on the 

 yields of mangels, oats, and hay was secured where : cwt. of sulphate of ammonia, 

 1 j cwt. <>f nitrate of soda, 6 cwt. of superphosphate, \ l - cwt. of sulphate of potash, 

 and n» t nn- of barnyard manure per acre were applied n> mangels. 



The ag-athi plant | Dept. Agr. M<i</r<is Bui. 52, pp. . l SO). Notes ate given on the 

 gr<»w tli <>f this plant in connection with the cultivation of the betel vine, which is 

 trained upon it. in addition to this, it- principal use, the leaves and tops of the plant 

 are used for forage. 



Under what conditions does potash fertilization reduce the protein con- 

 tent of malting barley? ( >. Kkitmah; [Ztechr. Landw. Versuchsw. 0esterr. f 8(19i 

 No. 10, pp. 863-944) . — This article is a review of experimental work by differenl 

 investigators on potash fertilization and its relation to the protein content of barley. 

 Many of the data discussed are tabulated and a list of :{o references consulted in the 

 preparation of the article is given. 



Basing his conclusions on the data reviewed, the author points oul that -oil and 

 climatic conditions unfavorable to the production of malting barley can not he offset 

 by applying potash. If the climate is favorable and the soil too rich, a change in 

 the crop rotation will be more effective than potash fertilization. It is believed that 

 weather conditions most largely control the low protein content of barley, and that 

 if the soil contains sufficient available nitrogen none should he given in the fertilizer, 

 or the quantity should be small. Potash applied under these conditions, especially 

 on soils in need of the element, may reduce the protein content in connection with 

 an increase in the yield but this does not always occur. 



As chemical analyses do not indicate that a soil will he benefited by potash appli- 

 cation, this must be determined by experimentation. A soil poor in nitrogen may 

 be given a rather heavy application of nitrate of soda without perceptibly influencing 

 the protein content of the grain and potash in such cases may reduce the protein in 

 the kernel, but this depends upon whether the soil responds to potash. An increase 

 in the nitrifying power of the soil due to frequent cultivation, especially on deep 

 fertile soils, may for a time make the soil less suited to the production of low protein 

 barley. 



It is stated that good malting barley contains from 9 to 11 per cent of protein in tin- 

 dry matter, or from 8 to 10 per cent in the air-dry grain, with 10 per cent of moisture. 

 Deep, well-drained loess soil, uniform in the size of the soil particles and of good 

 texture, is considered best for the production of barley low in protein. The produc- 

 tivity of a soil for this purpose should be more dependent upon a favorable distribu- 

 tion and conservation of the soil moisture than upon the plant food it contains. 

 Good malting barley is also produced on heavier and lighter soils than the kind just 

 described, but the production of a crop of the desired quality is less certain. During 

 the periods before and after heading a uniform, uninterrupted, and adequate mois- 

 ture supply is the most important factor in determining the quality of the product, 

 and these conditions are most likely to obtain in a loess soil. 



Owing to its rather small root system and its limited time of growth, the develop- 

 ment of spring-sown barley goes on very rapidly before heading, and the plant under 



these conditions may take up large quantities of nitrogen and other plant f la 



After the heads have appeared the formation of dry matter is believed to go on more 

 rapidly than the absorption of plant food, and if the moisture supply is insufficient 

 at this period the quantity of nitrogen taken up Is too large as compared with the 

 amount of dry matter formed, and a grain high in protein and ash is the result. In 

 this connection the influence of climate, season, and rainfall is indicated ami the value 

 of improved varieties i- discussed. 



