' According to the author, the principal point brought out in the work reviewed is 

 that potash fertilization reduces the protein content only when the quantity of avail- 

 able potash in the soil is at a minimum, and especially on the less fertile soils when 

 a heavy application of nitrogen has been given. 



Under what conditions does potash, fertilization reduce the protein con- 

 tent of malting- barley? J. Stoklasa (Ztschr. Landw. Versuclisw. Oesterr., 8 (1905), 

 Xo. 11, pp. 957-982). — A controversial article in answer to O. Eeitmair. 



The importance of the stooling capacity in cereal breeding-, J. Sperling 

 ( Fuhling's Landw. Ztg., 54 '{1905), Xo. 12, pp. 397-400).— Individual wheat plants, 

 ranging in number of stems from 6 to 22, were examined. The yield per plant was 

 found to increase quite regularly with the number of stems, being 14.40 gm. per 

 plant in the group with 6 stems and 49.29 gm. for the plants with 22 stems. 



Of the plants studied 7.92 per cent were low, 7.30 per cent medium, and 21.78 per 

 cent high in stooling capacity. The plants with the medium number of stems were 

 not only the most numerous, but also gave the highest average yield of grain per 

 head. The author concludes from these results that for breeding purposes plants 

 medium in stooling capacity should be selected. 



Drilling clover seed with the nurse crop, Bachmann (Deut. Landw. Presse, 

 32 (1905), Xo. 98, p. 814). — The results obtained show that germination and initial 

 growth on the drilled plats were of greater regularity than on those sown broadcast, 

 and that the stand of clover where broadcasted was uneven, while on the drilled 

 plats it was regular. The soil between the drills when the clover was 4 to 5 in. high 

 was completely covered, and Italian rye grass, which was sown with the clover, 

 developed perfectly. 



Selecting and preparing seed corn, P. G. Holden (Iowa Sta. Bid. 77, rev. ed., 

 pp. 167-230, figs. 43). — A revised edition of a bulletin previously noted (E. S. R., 16, 

 p. 40) containing in addition to matter already published'a report on seed corn tests 

 made in 1905. Directions for storing seed corn and for testing each ear are also 

 added. 



Over 3,300 samples of seed corn representing every section of the State, and each 

 sample consisting of 200 kernels taken from 100 ears of each farmer's seed, were 

 tested. The average results of these tests show that approximately 19 per cent of 

 the seed was entirely dead, 21 per cent low in vitality and unfit for planting, and 

 only about 60 per cent good seed with strong, vigorous germination and giving a 

 promise of well-developed, productive plants. 



Observations on the stand were made, in more than 1,000 different cornfields and 

 it was found that in some the stand was only 40 per cent of perfection, while in 

 others it ran as high as 95 to 96 per cent. It is estimated from these observations 

 that on the average for the State the actual stand was about 65 per cent of a perfect 

 stand. 



In another experiment seed secured from 90 different farmers living within a radius 

 of 10 miles from the station was compared. The experiment was repeated 3 times 

 under identical conditions. The average yield of the 6 highest-yielding samples was 

 at the rate of 77.5 bu. per acre, and of the 6 lowest-yielding, 35.6 bu. The yields of 

 these 12 samples ranged from 31.5 to 80.5 bu. per acre. 



The amount of water used by growing corn, R. W. Clothier (X. Dak. Farmer, 

 7 (1905), Xo. 1, pp. 5, 6). — Three stalks of corn were grown in the open in a cylinder 

 18 in. in diameter and 4 ft. high, filled with soil. At the bottom of the cylinder was 

 a reservoir shut off from the air. The soil was saturated with water and the reservoir 

 filled. 



The water used by the plants was measured by the quantity required to keep the 

 level in the reservoir constant as corrected by the loss due to evaporation from a 

 check cylinder. During the 24 days prior to July 12, when the plants were begin- 

 ning to silk, 7 in. of rain fell and in addition 132 lbs. of water was required to keep 



