FIELD CROPS. 



547 



The mosaic disease of the tobacco plant is discussed in considerable 

 detail, some figures being given to show the decreased malic-acid con- 

 tent of the pith, midrib, and lamina of the leaves of diseased over 

 healthy plants. 



Tests for oxidase in fresh-cured and fermented tobacco are given in 

 detail, and some results obtained in testing for these enzynis in differ- 

 ent tobaccos are reported. Methods of testing for catalase and the 

 results obtained with various tobaccos, as well as of cigars of com- 

 merce, are also recorded. The "grain" of tobacco was found to be 

 formed during the curing process. 



Other subjects discussed in this bulletin are the contents of the 

 tobacco leaf, ripening, behavior of the oxidizing enzyms in the curing 

 process, development of the brown color in curing tobacco, cromo- 

 gens of tobacco, sunburn of tobacco leaves, "white veins," "salt- 

 peter" on tobacco, bacterial hypothesis of sweating tobacco, sweating 

 musty tobaccos, aroma of tobaccos, nitrite content in sweated tobaccos, 

 and the amount of heat produced by sweating in bulk. 



Report on field experiments 1899, D. A. Gilchrist {Jour. Univ. Extension Col, 

 Reading [Englaml], Sup. 9, 1900, pp. 7-47, 52-54, 59-68) .—TYie experiments here 

 recorded were made at a number of different centers. The data given cover the results 

 obtained in fertilizer tests for meadow lands and pastures, oats, mangels, swedes, and 

 potatoes; the use of various seed mixturesfor hay and pasture; tests of varieties of oats; 

 and rotation experiments. Suggestions for the manuring of various crops are added. 



Kentucky forage plants— the grasses; analyses of some Kentucky grasses, 

 H. Garman and A. M. Peter (Am/'/cAv/ Sta. Bid. 87, pp. 55-122, 'ph. 14).— In part 1 of 

 this publication notes are given on 141 species of native and introduced Kentucky 

 grasses. Many of the grasses have been grown for a number of years on experi- 

 mental plats at the station and their comparative values noted. Considerable data 

 on the appearance, growth liabit, and value as forage crops of the more important 

 species are recorded, inchiding some statistics on the State production of corn and 

 wheat. 



Part 2 gives the results of analyses with reference to food constituents of the air- 

 dry and water-free material of 79 samples of grasses cut at different stages of growth 

 and comprising 31 species. Analyses of the hay and seed are frequently included. 



Drought-resisting forage plants at the cooperative range experiment sta- 

 tion, Highmore, S. Dak., J. H. Shepard and D. A. Saunders {South Dakota Sta. 

 Bui. 66, pp. 35-52).— ^hQ data here given with the different forage plants liave been 

 reported by the Division of Agrostology of this Department (E. S. R., 12, p. 332). 

 The mechanical and chemical analyses of the soils of Highmore are added. 



Analyses of sugar cane and sugar beets, A. M. Peter {Kentucky Sta. Rpt. 1898, 

 pp. A'TT/-A'A'/).— Tabulated results of analyses with reference to sugar content of 8 

 samples of sorghum and 105 samples of sugar beets. 



The area of leaf surface on the topped tobacco plant, E. H. Jenkins {Con- 

 necticut State Sta. Rpt. 1899, pt. 3, p. I'57).— This was determined by stripping off 

 the leaves from the topped tobacco plant, carefully tracing the outlines of each leaf 

 on rectangular sheets of paper whose area and weight were known and then cutting 

 out the traced leaves with scissors. By weighing the leaf figures and cuttings sepa- 

 rately it Avas calculated that the 18 leaves taken from the topped tobacco plant 

 investigated had an area of 27.2 sij. ft. "Reckoning 7,700 plants to the acre it would 



