134 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. 



acre. In irrigation tests tlie plats irrigated 3 times produced higher yields 

 than those irrigated 1, 2, or 4 times. 



Directions are given for producing, harvesting, and storing the potato crop. 



Ramie (Rhea), China grass, H. A. Carter {London, New Y'OrJc, Melbourne, 

 and Tokyo, 1910, pp. VIl+l-'iO, pis. 28). — The author discusses varieties of 

 ramie and their soil and climatic requirements. Directions are given for pro- 

 ducing the crop, for decortication of the fiber and its preparation for market, 

 and for its manufacture into yarns, cloth, and other articles. 



A contribution on the breeding of rape and turnips, A. Hummel {Illvs. 

 Landw. Ztg., 30 {1910), No. 56, pp. 523-526, figs. 11).— This article embraces 

 discussions of the practical work connected with the breeding of these crops, of 

 the morphological differences of the two plants and their crosses, and of heredity 

 problems in this connection, together with the methods of selection. 



The results of experiments in the selection of rape indicate that the number 

 of desirable progeny was greater than the number of undesirable individuals 

 and that on an average the heavier plants produced the more valuable progeny. 

 The author considers that with individual selection the results may be desig- 

 nated arithmetically after the limits of error have been determined and recog- 

 nized, but that conclusions should not be drawn before the limits of error have 

 been determined, for which from 5 to 6 years of observation are necessary. 



The wild rice of tropical Africa, A. Chevalier {Jour. Agr. Trop., 11 {1911), 

 No. 115, pp. 1-3). — A general description of this native rice {Oryza harthii) 

 is given, together with a discussion of its value and its culture by the natives. 

 In addition to this its botanical relationshii)s are considered. 



Investigations on the influence of climate on the sugar cbntent of the 

 modern highly bred sugar beet, F. Strohmer {Osten: TJngar. Ztschr. Zucker- 

 indus. u. Landw., 39 (1910), No. 6, pp. 919-9^, fig. Z).— The author secured in 

 tjholicky a number of mother beets of the same type and variety and grew sev- 

 eral of them for seed in the region of the Brenner Pass, 1,050 meters above sea 

 level, allowing the i*est of them to produce seed at Uholicky. The following 

 season the seed produced at these two points was compared at Gross-Zinken- 

 dorf in Hungary and at Diirnkrut in Lower Austria, regions with different 

 climatic conditions. 



The results showed that the climatic factor had not influenced the content of 

 sugar, ash, or nitrogenous substances, and, further, that mother beets high in 

 sugar but low in growth, although yielding comparatively small seed balls with 

 a reduced germinating power, are nevertheless capable of producing among their 

 progeny individuals of the best quality. The author, however, advises against 

 the use of such seed for bi'eeding purposes on account of the reduced germi- 

 native energy, which may at times result in an imperfect stand. 



Correlation between weight and sugar content in beets, H. Plahn 

 (Centbl. Zuckerindus., 19 {1911), No. 18, pp. 512, 573). — In discussing this sub- 

 ject the author points out that some of the beets grown from seed of the same 

 mother plant often show a tendency toward intense grovrth, while other indi- 

 viduals, although selected on the basis of weight, seem to indicate that an 

 Increase in weight of the individual is possible only at the expense of the sugar 

 content. 



Observations were made on individuals grown from seed of 50 different plants 

 and it was found that in some instances the average polarization of heavy 

 beets, or those weighing over 1,000 gm., was approximately the same as the 

 average polarization of light beets, or those weighing under 1,000 gm. The 

 author regards this as indicating that where the polarization is about the 

 same, the strains are capable of being increased in weight, while in those 

 instances in which the polarization differs to a perceptible extent the limit of 



