FIELD CROPS. 1031 



In .sevenil instance.s jiccidciitiil fiiilurcs took place, and in the second 

 cour,s(i of the rotation the experiments on some of the plats were dis- 

 continued. The two j)lats carried completely through the two courses 

 of rotation showed net losses of $18. 40 and $4:4 per acre in the first 

 course, but in the second cours(^ they showed gains of $80.70 and 

 $64.40 per acre, respectively. 



Researches on the gro-wth of forage plants, Monvoisin (Ann. 

 Agro/i.. ;v6' {J.'MJU), X'>. ■^\ j>j>- 77-10-1). A study was made of the water, 

 ash, and nitrogen content of vetch, crimson clover, lentils, sauifoin, 

 alfalfa, 1)1 ue melilot, Italian and English rye grass, and a number of 

 less known forage plants at dilferent stages of growth. The weights 

 of the stem and roots, etc., were also determined. 



The roots of perennial plants were found to represent a rather high 

 weight in proportion to the stems. After the seeds mature a constant 

 loss of dry matter was found to occur. The mineral matter was greater 

 in the roots than in the stems and more abundant in perennials than in 

 annuals. It was highest at a period intermediate between the begin- 

 ning of vegetation and Howering, and diminished toward the end of 

 vegetation. In these investigations the nitrogenous material of the 

 different plants was greater April 26 than at any period thereafter. 



Grains, forage crops, and plants for green manuring, A. J, 

 McCr.ATCiiiK [ArhsoiKi Sta. Rpf. 1!)00, pp. 15o-loS). — The experi- 

 ments with grains included tests of wheat grown for milling purposes, 

 and the determination of the l)est varieties of cereals for hay. Of fif- 

 teen varieties of wheat tested, Rugby yielded as high as Sonora, the 

 standard variety of the region, and No. 1174 of the U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture from Turkestan ripened in as short a time. The 

 results further indicated that Sonora wheat yields best when sown 

 soon after November 1. Wheat sown broadcast and irrigated by fur- 

 rows gave the best returns, as compared with other methods of irri- 

 gating. Feldspar wheat produced a better hay than Sonora, and the 

 hulless and beardless varieties of barley were considered preferable 

 to bearded varieties for hay. 



Club-head sorghum was the best yielding forage crop. Kafir corn 

 was next to sorghum in yield. Teosinto gave a good yield of good 

 fodder but required too much water to be desirable for that region. 

 Egyptian corn was the best heat and drought resisting of the forage 

 crops tested. Yellow sweet clover {Jfelilofu.s r/idica) proved a better 

 plant for green manuring, under the conditions, than alfalfa and 

 lupines. 



G-rass experiments, W. Carruthers and J. A. Voelcker {Jou?\ 

 Ruij. Aijr. Sur. Kmjldnd, 3. ser., 11 {1900), pt. i, pp. 7i6'-XAV).— The 

 results are given of 22 trials in 11 counties of England in the improve- 

 ment of pastures l)y fertilizing. In 10 cases where analyses showed a 

 lack of phosphoric acid, the addition of fertilizers (containing that 



