FIELD CROPS. 137 



A disease locally known as blackleg, wliicli made its appearance at the same 

 time, is believed to have been introduced into various localities by means of 

 the seed. It was found that in many cases the Virginia fields of Irish Cobbler 

 were mixed with other varieties, mainly Green Mountain. 



Potato culture in northern Wisconsin, E. P. Sandsten and E. J. Delwiche 

 iWiaconsiii Sta. Bui. 177, pp. 3-17, fig. 1). — In continuation of work previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 19, p. 131), experiments with potatoes indicated the need of 

 adding nitrogen and humus to the sandy soils of northern Wisconsin. For this 

 purpose dairy farming combined with potato raising is recommended as is also 

 the application of barnyard manure. A 3-year rotation recommended is clover, 

 potatoes, and barley, oats or rye. Good results have been obtained by allow- 

 ing the clover to grow until June 1 following the year of seeding, then turning 

 it imder before planting to potatoes. When the clover crop has occupied the 

 ground for a long period and has been cut for hay, fall plowing has given the 

 best results. 



Planting between May 25 and June 5 in rows 36 to 40 in. apart and with hills 

 15 in. apart has been found to give the best results. At Iron River, potatoes 

 planted 4 in. deep yielded at a rate of IG bu. and 12 lbs. higher than those 

 planted 6 in. deep and 88 bu. and 12 lbs. higher than those planted 8 in. deep. 

 Level cultivation succeeded best on sandy soils but hilling was necessary on 

 heavy clay soils to provide drainage and prevent sun-burning. 



Ten varieties of potatoes tested at Iron River Substation in 1908, ranged in 

 yield per acre from 56 to 172 bu. The leading varieties and their yields per 

 acre were as follows: Carmen No. 3 172 bu.. Burbank 166 bu., Xoroton Beauty 

 156 bu., and Early Rose 153 bu. At the Ashland Substation, these same varie- 

 ties ranged in yield per acre from 37 to 107 bu., the leading varieties and their 

 yields being Stray Beauty 107 bu., Burbank and Rural New Yorker No. 2 97 

 bu., and Carmen No. 3 87 bu. 



The influence of carbon disulphid on the development of the sug'ar beet 

 ((Jaz. Cuknjiciticza, 1909. p. .'f79; abs. in Wchnschr. Cent. Ter. Riibcnz. Indus. 

 [Vienna], -'/7 (1909), Xo. 21, p. 31S). — Experiments conducted in Poland to de- 

 termine the influence of carbon disulphid on the growth of the sugar beet are 

 here reported. The carbon disulphid was placed in holes 20 cm. deep which 

 were made between 2 rows of beets at intervals of 35 cm. The quantity used 

 per hole was about 6.5 gm. 



The average weight per beet in each check experiment was 291 gm. as com- 

 pared with 309 gm. for the rows treated with the carbon disulphid. The sugar 

 content for the check rows was 16.79 per cent and in the treated rows 16.95 per 

 cent. The treated rows showed an increase in yield of 4.070 kg. per hectare 

 (about 3.622 lbs. per acre), but this increase was insufficient to pay for the 

 carbon disulphid used. It is, therefore, concluded that carbon disulphid can 

 be used with profit only on beet lands infested with nematodes. 



Beet crop estimator, C. E. Bensel (Amer. Sugar Indus, and Beet Sugar Gas., 

 11 {1909), No. 10, p. 428, fig. 1). — An instrument used in estimating the tonnage 

 of sugar beets is described and directions for its use are given. 



Annual report on the investigations and progress of the manufacture of 

 sugar, J. Bock (Jahrcsher. Zuekerfabril: [Stammer], J,S (1908), pp. XII+287, 

 figs. 12, eharts 5). — This publication contains reviews of books and articles re- 

 lating to the agricultural, mechanical, chemical, and statistical phases of the 

 beet sugar industry in the different beet growing countries of the world. 



Work at the tobacco stations, E. H. Mathewson et al. (Virginia Sta. Bui. 

 18S. pp. -'i-16, figs. 9). — This has been noted from another source (E. S. R., 21. 

 p. 433). 



