FIELD CROPS. . 637 



ridges, accompany detailed statements of the cost of growing sugar beets and 

 mangels on a Cotswold soil. 



Sugar-cane experiments in Antig'ua, H, A. Tempany (Agr. News [Barbados], 

 10 (1911), No. 252, p. 403). — Among 41 varieties of plant canes tested during 

 3910-11, 16 excelled in yield the standard variety White Transparent with 

 which they were compared. B 4596, the Sealy seedling, and D 1111 produced 

 the highest yields, each exceeding 5,000 lbs. of sucrose per acre. During the past 

 4 years B 4596 and the Sealy seedling have each averaged more than 6,000 lbs. 

 of sucrose per acre. Among the rattoon canes B 4596 and B 208 produced the 

 highest yields of sucrose in 1910-11, but during the past 3 years B 4596 and B 

 1528 have led, B 208 standing twelfth in rank. 



Sug'ar-cane experiments in St. Kitts, H. A. Tempany (Agr. News [Barbados], 

 10 {1911), No. 251, p. 587).— In variety tests of plant canes B 208 was among 

 the first 5 varieties at 6 experiment stations and B 4.596 and D 625 at 4 stations 

 each. Among the rattoon canes B 1753 was among the first 5 varieties at 5 

 stations but B 208 at only 2 stations. 



Sweet potato rots, H. W. Barre (South Carolina Sta. Rpt. 1911, pp. 49-51). — 

 This is a report of tests of methods of storing sweet potatoes. 



Sweet potatoes slightly injured by a fi'eeze on October 30 were harvested 

 November 7 and stored in 3 bins holding about 25 bu. each. For 2 weeks an 

 oil stove was kept constantly burning in the storage house, and the 2 windows 

 were kept open except during cold nights. This ventilation and the temperature, 

 which was maintained at between 65 and 80°, drove the excess moisture out 

 of the potatoes. The temperature was then allowed to fall to between 50 and 

 60°, but several times during January it fell to 45°. 



One bin of the potatoes was grown from slips drawn from potatoes affected 

 with black rot, and the remainder from cuttings made from these vines. When 

 harvested the potatoes grown from the slips were found to be badly affected 

 with black rot, while those grown from the vines were free from disease. 

 During January and February the black rot and the nectria rot were found to 

 be making considerable headway on the bin filled with the diseased potatoes, 

 but to only a slight extent in remaining bins. 



Some or all of the frosted potatoes in all 3 bins were found to be affected 

 with soft rot after about a month of storage. Ehizopus was easily isolated 

 from them. On March 14, the bin which had been filled with diseased potatoes 

 contained 12 bu. of sound potatoes and 8 bu. of rotten potatoes, and the remain- 

 ing bins contained respectively 18 bu. of sound and 2 bu. of rotten potatoes 

 and 20 bu. of sound and 2i bu. of rotten potatoes. The majority of the decayed 

 potatoes in these last 2 bins were completely destroyed, apparently by soft rot. 



The author regards the facts that soft rot seemed unable to attack any save 

 the injured potatoes and that the surrounding healthy ones were entirely unin- 

 jured as " very much to the credit of this method of storing." 



Three similar lots of potatoes were banked on ground which had been leveled 

 off and covered with about 6 in. of pine straw. The potatoes were piled around 

 a box of 6 in. boards, in which numerous 2 in. holes had been bored, and placed 

 in a perpendicular position in the center of each bank. Cornstalks were placed 

 next the potatoes and covered with straw over which was placed a 2 in. layer 

 of soil. On the approach of colder weather 16 days later the banks were covered 

 with about 5 in. of soil. The boxes were kept open during warm days, but 

 closed at night and during cold days. The temperature in the banks varied 

 from 48 to 66° F. during the winter, but never varied more than 5° per day. 

 On March 26 the bank of potatoes grown from slips contained 9 bu. of sound 

 potatoes and 6 bu. of potatoes which showed some rot, while one of the banks of 

 potatoes grown from vines contained 12 bu. of sound potatoes and 11 bu. of rotten 



