FIELD CROPS. 235 



Ixitli ill the .yield and tlic (|ualit.v of tiic Ijects produfed. TLio yield of boots 

 was increased liy 41.9 per cent and the yield of sngar by 4T.."> per cent over 

 the check jilats. An acre of snyar beets si'own for factory ])nrposes yielded 

 2.">.0(ir) lbs. of beets, or about S,S(iM lbs. of sii.^ai' per acre. Tlie sngar content 

 for the entire field was l(!.7r> per cent and tlii' purity SS.T ])or cent. 



Dark fire-cured tobacco of Virginia and the possibilities for its improve- 

 ment, G. T. INIcXkss and K. II. ^NIatiikwsox {!'. S. Drpi. At/r. Yearhook lOOo, 

 jip. 219-230, plx. 'i. fill. /).— An article dealing solely witli the dark tobacco of 

 Virginia and treating expressly of the conditions existing in the district whore 

 this crop is produced. 



Tli(! history of tobacco culture in the State is brioHy i-eviewed, the types of 

 loaf described, the common methods of cultivation, curing, and marketing dis- 

 cussed, and improvements in the different linos suggested. Notes are also given 

 on the selection of soils, the making of seed beds, and the use of fertilizers. 



In VMM the Bureau of Soils began a series of experiments in Appomattox 

 County with the object of determining by practical commercial tests what may 

 be accomplished in these older tobacco-growing sections. An acre of land was 

 fertilized after the usual farmer's method with 400 lbs. of fertilizer, costing .$5 

 an acre, and furnishing 12 lbs. of ammonia, 36 lbs. of phosphoric acid, 12 lbs. of 

 potash. A second acre plat was fertilized wtih 850 lbs. of home-mixed fer- 

 tilizer, costing .$10.44, and containing 73i lbs. of ammonia, 57 lbs. of phosphoric 

 acid, and 75 lbs. of potash, and a third acre plat received 1,700 lbs. of home- 

 mixed fertilizer, costing .'?r)2..30, and giving 1.53 lbs. of ammonia, lOG lbs. of phos- 

 phoric acid, and 125 lbs. of potash. The acre fertilized after the usual fanner's 

 method yielded G73 lbs. of tobacco, which sold for .$45.50 gross, or an average 

 of 6f cts. a pound. The second acre plat produced 883 lbs., selling for .$81.09, 

 or an average of 9J cts. a pound, and the third acre plat yielded 1,.3.34 Ibs^ 

 which sold for $111.29, or 8| cts. a pound. To keep the product of the plats 

 uniform the number of plants set per acre was 4,200, 5,000, and 6,000, respec- 

 tively, and the net profit mentioned in the order given was .$5, .$21, and $29. 



The composition of turnips and swedes, .1. Hendkick {Trans. Highland 

 ami Af/r. ,S'oc. Scot., 5. scr.. IS (10()()), iip. 281-296, fif/s. 2). — The work in Great 

 Britain during recent years on the composition of turnips and swedes with 

 a view to their improvement is summarized. 



It was found that the upiier half of the turnip and the outer poi'tion contained 

 a higher percentage of dry matter than the lower half and the inner portion. 

 The determinations were made on sound and hard roots and the results are con- 

 sidered as in'obably not holding with dry rcjots, consisting largely of soft, spongy 

 tissue. It is believed that by selection the composition of root crops may be 

 improved. 



Winter wheat, .V. T. Wiancko and M. L. Fisher (Iiidiaini Sta. Bill. ll.'/. in>- 

 291-308). — This bulletin summarizes the results secured witli the varieties of 

 winter wheat grown by the station since 1900. 



In coni]iaring the varieties Michigan Amber of home production was taken as 

 the standard, the average yield for this variety for 6 years being 30.5 bu. per 

 acre. Among the varieties seeming most promising or reliable at present are 

 mentioned Uudy. .Mealy, Tennessee White Fultz, Winter King, and Farmer's 

 Frii'iid. Daw.son (Jolden ("hafl" and Gold Coin also gave good yields. Tennessee 

 White Fultz. Dawson Golden Chatf, and Gold Coin have shown themselves to be 

 very hardy, strong in straw, and good yielders, but they are all white and rather 

 soft wheats and are, therefore, not recommended for milling qualities. The 

 Hungarian and Russian varieties, including Gluten. Gluten B 86, California, 

 Kharkov, Beloglino, Turkish Red, Buda Pesth, and Ghirka Winter were all 

 very hardy, more or less rust resistant, and of excellent milling quality, but 



