734 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. 



gether with either a light or a heavy application of nitrate of socla. In both 

 cases the use of nitrate of soda gave a profitable increase in the yield of sugar 

 and the sugar content in the beet was also increased as compared with the 

 check tests. In another experiment in which potash and phosphoric acid were 

 applied instead of barnyard manure the use of the nitrate of soda also proved 

 beneficial. 



It is stated that the proper use of nitrate of soda is not injurious to the 

 interests of the sugar manufacturer and that it often is a l)enelit to the farmer 

 when the price of beets is low. 



The effect of a too heavy application of nitrate of soda, II. Briem (Coitbl. 

 Zuclcriitdus., J.'j (IDOU), Jo. 8, p. 202). — Analyses are reported of beets grown 

 on a sandy, humus soil and very heavily fertilized with nitrate of soda in com- 

 parison with analyses of beets grown with a normal application of fertilizers. 



The relation of sodium to potasli in the heavily fertilized beets was as 1 : 0.73, 

 while in the normally fertilized beets it was as 1 : 3.88. The normally grown 

 beets contained 0.04G per cent of sodium, while in the heavily fertilized beets 

 this element reached 0.133 per cent. The total nitrogen content was 0.195 per 

 cent and 0.284 per cent for the properly and improperly fertilized beets, re- 

 spectively. 



It is pointed out that in experiments by Ilellriegel it was shown that a high 

 sugar content is associated with a definite relation between the potash and 

 nitrogen content of 1 : 1, while in these experiments the relation was as 1 : 3. 



The occurrence of dodder on sugar beets, A. Stift {Bl. Zuckerruhenbau, 

 14 {1901), No. 1, pp. 2-4). — The author reports the occurrence of the common 

 dodder (Cuscuta europwa) on sugar beets in western Hungary. 



Lectures to sugar planters (Imp. Dept. Agr. West Indies. 190G, pp. VII + 

 176. figs. 05). — This publication contains lectures on the following subjects: 

 The natural history of the sugar-cane, by D. Morris; soils and manures in rela- 

 tion to the cultivation of the sugar-cane, by J. P. D'Albuquerque ; hints on the 

 planting and cultivation of the sugar-cane and intermediate crops, by J. R. 

 Bovell ; the insect pests of sugar-cane and associated crops, by H. Maxwell- 

 Lefroy ; and the fungoid diseases of the sugar-cane, by A. Howard. 



Report of the division of agriculture and chemistry, C. F. Eckart (Ha- 

 waiian Sugar Planters' Sta. RjJt. 1906, pp. 21-42, figs. 6). — A general report is 

 here given on the work of this division for the year ending September 30, 1906. 

 The different lines of work in progress are briefly outlined and experiments soon 

 to be inaugurated are described. 



Observations on seed-bearing sugar canes and the production of seedlings are 

 discussed and the number of seeds of different varieties germinating and the 

 number of plants successfully raised are given in a table. During the season 

 5,232 seedling canes were grown. Of 279 plants raised from West Indian 

 seed imported in 1904, 37 have been sufficiently promising to merit special test- 

 ing on the station grounds. 



Tobacco culture on soils which had been reforested with Albizzia moluccana 

 (Meded. DeU-Proefstat. Medan, 1 (1901), No. 2-3, pp. 61-114).— The results of 

 different cooperative tests indicate that reforesting with Albizzia moluccana on 

 the various kinds of soils under observation is not injurious to tobacco land as 

 is commonly supposed. The method has the advantage of reducing hard soils. 



The selection of seed wheat, G. W. Shaw (California Sta. Bui. 181, pp. 

 149-172, figs. 12). — This bulletin treats of the importance of seed wheat selec- 

 tion and describes the methods employed. A large number of samples of seed 

 wheat were obtained over a wide area in the Sacramento and San Joaquin 

 valleys of California for the purpose of determining the general character of 



