436 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



in the case of the nitric nitrogen, the form in which the plant supposedly takes 

 up its niti'ogen supply. In the case of the variety ER the nitric nitrogen in 

 the beet on September 1 was 0.01925, in the normally developed beet on Novem- 

 ber 8, 0.00827, in the defoliated beets on November 8, it was 0.01367. There is 

 an actual depression in the percentage, but it is not equal to that required to 

 be proportional to the increase in the weight of the beets ; in other words, there 

 has been an increase in the amount of nitric nitrogen in these beets instead 

 of a decrease as there was in the normally developed beets, and as there had 

 been in those which had received an application of nitrates up to September 28. 

 The total nitrogen in the beets of the variety ZR harvested November 8 is very 

 low and the nitric nitrogen very high. In this variety we find the size of the 

 beets depressed and the percentage of sugar no higher than it was on September 

 1 immediately prior to defoliation. 



" The amount of mineral matter taken up by the crop of defoliated beets is 

 less than that taken up by the normally developed crop, but the ratio or per- 

 centage is scarcely disturbed at all. The most striking feature is perhaps the 

 phosphoric acid, which is the same in the normally developed and the defoli- 

 ated beets, while it is decidedly depressed in the nitrate beets. 



" The complete defoliation of the beets on September 6 caused the production 

 of smaller roots than were produced in the case of the same varieties with 

 normal development. The roots were poorer in dry matter and in sugar than 

 the normally developed beets. These results are in harmony with those pre- 

 viously observed. The effects upon the nitrogen in the beets was to suppress 

 the total amount, but it caused an increase in the nitric nitrogen present in the 

 root while this form was materially reduced (50 per cent) in the normally 

 developed beet. The proteid nitrogen was also depressed, showing that both 

 the intake and assimilation of the nitrogen had been involved. 



"The effects of defoliation upon the ash constituents was proportional to 

 the effect upon the size of the roots or crop, and affected the composition of 

 the ash but slightly, or not at all." 



It is noted that the attack of the fungus Cercospora beticola, which often 

 defoliates beets, produces a similar effect on the resultant crop. 



Tabulated data of analyses of various parts of the beet plant are given. 



Sweet potatoes: Culture, storing', and studies in fertilizing, H. P. Stuckey 

 {Georgia Sta. Bui. 107 (1914), pp. 81-112, figs. 24).— In this bulletin cultural 

 methods are given which include soil preparation, bedding the seed potatoes in 

 hotbeds and in the open, time and method of setting the plants, methods of 

 keeping and storing sound potatoes, and directions for the construction of a 

 storage house. 



Tests of planting dates show a period from May 16 to June 11 to be most 

 favorable for large yields. 



Better yields were obtained from pieces of vine about 14 in. long set July 28 

 in comparison with plants, yields being 36 and 7 lbs., respectively on 1/52 acre 

 plats. Pruning the vines to about 1 ft. in June reduced the yield nearly one- 

 half. Home-grown plants yielded considerably better than commercial plants 

 shipped in from other localities. 



Data on the date of digging show that there was a decided financial loss on 

 the Golden Beauty potato by early digging and a gain on the Enormous. " This 

 just emphasizes the necessity of knowing the stage of maturity of the potatoes 

 and the price the market offers for the crop before an early harvest is made." 

 A test of 17 varieties showed a wide range In yields (126.6 bu. to 474.6 bu. per 

 acre) based upon varietal characteristics, the heavy yieiders being chiefly of 

 stock feeding quality. 



