150 



Experiments u-ltli potatoes (pp. 490-497) — These include tests of varie- 

 ties and field experimeuts with fertilizers aud methods of planting. 

 Tabulated notes are given for eight varieties. In the fertilizer experi- 

 ment cotton-seed meal, cotton seed, acid i)hosphate, aud kainit alone,, 

 and these and nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia in various com- 

 binations were applied to Boston Peerless potatoes. Here, as in other 

 fertilizer experiments at this station, nitrogen proved beneficial. The 

 best yields were with crushed cotton seed or cotton-seed meal combined 

 with kainit and acid phosphate. Tabulated notes are given for experi- 

 ments in planting large and medium sized whole potatoes, audoneeye, 

 two-eye, and larger pieces of the eight varieties tested. 



Louisiana Stations, Bulletin No. 28 (pp. 52). 



Field experiments on sugar-cane (pp. 500-549). — A series of 

 experiments beguu in 188G was closed at the end of the season of 1889. 

 For a i)revious report on these experiments see Bulletin No. 20 of this 

 station, and Experiment Station Eecord, Vol. I, p. 63. This bulletin 

 contains the details of the experiments in 1889, and a summary of the 

 results for the four years. During the first three years the station 

 was located at Kenner, and during the last year at Audubon Park, 

 New Orleans. The investigations have included field experiments on 

 germination aud growth from " plant cane," and from stubble under dif- 

 ferent conditions; physiological questions, including the influence of 

 suckeriug on the cane ; varieties, with reference to their adaptation to 

 Louisiana ; aud mauurial requirements. 



Jleteorology (pp. 500-503). — A condensed weather record for each 

 month from March 1, 1886, to January 1, 1890, is given from observa- 

 tions made at the station, as well as a summary by years and seasons. 

 In 1886 the winter was severe, the spring late and cold, aud the summer 

 and fall favorable; in 1887 the winter was mild, the spring moderately 

 dry aud warm, the summer warm and wet, aud the autumn cool and 

 dry (conditions favorable to heavy tonnage of cane) ; i\i 1888 the winter 

 was fairly propitious, the si)ring excessively wet, the summer wet, and 

 the autumn dry and cold (light tonnage but heavy sugar yield due to 

 relatively low glucose content) ; in 1889, the spring and fall were ex- 

 ceedingly dry. " We find that a dry, warm winter, followed by a mod- 

 erately dry spring, and this, in turn, succeeded by a hot, wet summer^ 

 shading gradually into a cool, drN' autumn, are conditions favorable to a 

 maximum growth of cane. After the cane is 'laid by' frequent show- 

 ers of considerable intensity seem highly beneficial." 



Germination questions (pp. 504-519). — " The sugar-cane has been so 

 long cultivated from cuttings that it has, like the bauaua, lost its 

 power of producing true seed, even though it passes through all the 

 phases of fructification. Often in nature, when any organ is rendered 

 useless, it ceases to exist. The fish in underground caverns are eye- 

 less. The banana and some other plants, long propagated from shoots 



