FIELD CROPS. 1 14*.» 



The chief impuritj in western alfalfa seed is the dead seed of the alfalfa itself, and 

 the obnoxious weed seeds most commonly present were chief!) those of species of 

 docks and English plantain (Planlago lanceolata). 



The range of germination in the Bamples ran from 60 to 96 per cent, with an 

 average of about 83 per cent. The separation of dead alfalfa seed was not found 

 practically possible, and it is recommended that the grading of alfalfa seed be based 

 upon actual germination tests. 



Correction of a very unfavorable ratio of lime to magnesia in a soil for 

 the culture of barley, (i. Daikuhara [But, Imp. Cent. Agr. Expl. Sta. ./"/"in, / 

 (1905), No. /,/>/>. t8-16,pl. ?).— The soil originally i tained 0.64 per cent of cal- 

 cium oxid and 1.91 per cent of magnesium oxid, representing a ratio of 0.34 : 1. By 

 adding sufficient lime t<> make the ratio <>!' these two substances I : 1 the yield of bar- 

 ley was doubled on well-manured soil, and even more than doubled whin the 

 manuring was one-si. led or when no application at all was made. This resull is 

 attributed not only to the regulation of the ratio of lime to magnesia, hut also to the 

 improvement of the physical and chemical condition of the soil resulting from tais- 

 ing the lime content. 



Buckwheat, J. L. Stone (New York Cornell sin. Bui. ?S8, />/>. 179-193, figs. ■'>).— 

 This bulletin gives a general account of the buckwheat plant, with directions for its 

 culture and uses. 



An experiment was made by the station in 1901 to determine whether better 

 results could be secured by turning rye under early in the season or by allowing it 

 to grow until shortly before drilling in buckwheat. The results indicated that early 

 plowing and subsequent harrowing to produce a thorough settling of the soil gives 

 the better results. It is recommended that if early plowing is impracticable greater 

 attention should be given to a thorough fitting of the seed bed. 



The average yields in a variety test were as follows: Japanese 27.5 bu., Common 

 Gray 26.8 bu., and Silver Hull 19.5 bu. per acre. In cooperative tests by 14 farmers 

 in various parts of the State the average yield of Japanese was 21.29 bu. per acre and 

 that of Silver Hull 20.05 bu. 



Buckwheat, E. Haseliioff (Landw. Vers. Stal., 63 [1906), No. 5-6, pp. 375-406, 

 figs. 11).— A general description of the buckwheat plant, directions tor its culture, a 

 review of experiments conducted with the crop, and a discussion of the chemical 

 composition of the grain, straw, and mill products, together with their feeding value, 

 are given. A bibliography of 17 references is listed. 



The cassava industry, L. Colson and L. Chatel (Culture et mduslru <ln manioc. 

 Paris: A. Challamel, 1906, j>j>. 95, figs. ?, //>"/< /, dgm. /).— This book treats of the 

 culture of cassava on the Island of Reunion, and gives a resume" of the different 

 operations necessary in the manufacture of starch and tapioca. Estimates are given 

 on the cost of production of the crop and the manufactured food material.-. 



Adulteration of red clover seed, .1. Wilson (V. S />>/>!. Agr., Office Sec. Circ. 

 IS, p. 1). — Of 521 samples of seed of red clover obtained in the open market 1 Hi con- 

 tained dodder and 5 were lound to he adulterated with seed of yellow trefoil. These 

 samples contained from 18.29 to 52.64 per cent of yellow trefoil. 



Corn, W. II. Scherffius I Kentucky Sta. /»'»/. I :.'. i»/>. 155 189, pis. 3).- A method 

 of selecting seed corn is outlined and a chemical study of the composition of a 

 number of varieties of Kentucky corn is reported. Each variety is described and 

 the results of analyses are given in tables. 



These results show that the percentage of nitrogen does not differ materially in 

 the individual whorls of grain on the ear. beginning at the butt, until after the 

 middle is passed, when there is a gradual falling off m the nitrogen content toward 

 the tip. In some instances, however, the grains at the tip contained a higher per- 

 centage of nitrogen than the grains m any part of the ear, while m Other cases they 

 contained the lowest. 



