236 EXPEKIMENT STATION EECORD. 



lu 1907, 113 plants survived and in the second year tlie majority of tbem 

 proved vigorous growers. Two of them, designated L 100 and L 92, gave 

 special promise, the latter showing a sugar content slightly higher than that 

 of D 74. Unfortunately, however, these canes have more recently given less 

 promise, indicating, the author believes, that a test of considerable length is 

 necessary before the value of a new seedling can be determined. 



During 1908, 387 plants were jDroduced. A table states the source of seed 

 and the varieties from which each of these plants was obtained and the author 

 calls attention to the large number of germinations from seed secured from 

 Antigua. Although a large assortment of seed was secured for use during 

 1910, none of the plants survived. 



In order to show that there is a possibility of originating types of cane of 

 better sugar content than those now cultivated in Louisiana, the author calls 

 attention to the fact that 8 of the 1909 seedlings gave juices with a higher 

 sucrose content than that of D 74. Seven of these were from the parent cane 

 B 147. An even greater number of the 1908 seedlings show a satisfactory 

 sucrose content, and among these 14, L 511 is especially noteworthy with a 

 sucrose content of 16.3 per cent. 



Tobacco growing in Ireland {Dept. Agr. and Tech. Lnstr. Ireland Jour., 11 

 {1911), No. 2, 'PI). 228-237). — Discussions of the method and scope of the experi- 

 ment are followed by detailed statements of the expenses per acre of prouucing 

 pipe, cigarette, cigar, and mixed tobaccos. The expense of performing each 

 operation on each of 10 farms is stated in tabular form. 



The extermination of morning- glory, F. T. Bioletti (California Sta. Circ. 

 69, pp. 12, flys. 7). — Directions for the control of the wild morning glory 

 (Convolvulus arvensis) accompany the statement of the results of tests of 

 various methods on 10 acres of bare land at Davis. 



Roots well supplied with starch and capable of producing new shoots have 

 been found at the depth of 14 ft. In a deep rich soil little difference was 

 observed in the number of grams of roots per cubic foot of soil at different 

 levels down to the sixth foot. Micro-chemical examination showed about an 

 equal starch supply at all levels. 



Tests on uncultivated soil and soil on which ordinary good cultivation had 

 been practiced showed 15.8 and 15.1 gm. of roots per cubic foot of soil respec- 

 tively. The author, therefore, regards the effect of ordinary good cultivation 

 on the roots in the upper 3 ft. of soil as " apparently nil." The roots were, in 

 all cases, well supplied with starch. 



Cutting the weeds every 5 days resulted in a diminution for the season of 

 about 70 per cent in average weight of roots per cubic foot of soil. " If this 

 decrease in the quantity of roots were the whole effect of the work it would 

 not be worth the expense. Micro-chemical examination of the roots, however, 

 showed that many of them were almost devoid of starch and that, in all. the 

 amount of starch was very small compared with that of roots from the other 

 sources." The absence of starch indicates an exhaustion of the reserve food 

 material as shown by the fact that less than half a dozen morning glory shoots 

 occurred on the 10 acres the following year. 



The cost of 30 weed cuttings which accomplished this result is estimated at 

 $9 per acre; Thirty days' work was required on the 10 acres. The knives were 

 run no more than 3 in. below the soil surface, but the author believes that if 

 run 5 to 6 in. deep the number of cuttings might be diminished without in- 

 ferior results as the time between cuttings might be lengthened. 



