642 EXPERIMENT STATION KECOKD. 



would not remain in suspension in water. This effect, was temporary, disap- 

 pearing after 3 montlis, and the mere l^eeping of air-dry soil for 6 weeks 

 materially reduced it. This power to precipitate soil is shared by oil cake 

 (safflower cake) but not by any other cakes tested. This change in the physical 

 condition of the soil is only a secondary cause of the beneficial effect of the 

 " Rab " process. 



The heating destroyed a large proportion of the active aerobic life of the soil, 

 but even when the soil was kept in an air-dry condition this aerobic activity 

 became far greater in 6 weeks than in the unheated sample, though this dif- 

 ference disappeared on further keeping of the soil. Soil fertility is not con- 

 sidered dependent on the presence of aei-obic soil organisms during plant growth, 

 but on the contrary " the fertility of a heated soil is greatest when the aerobic 

 organisms present are fewest." 



The author suggests as a more economical method of obtaining the benefits of 

 this method that soil be burnt in heaps, as this would require less fuel and 

 work. 



The mutual relations of weight and sugar content in Beta vulgaris sac- 

 charifera, K. ANURLiK, V. Baeto§, and J. Urban {Ztsohr. Zuckeriiidus. Bbhmen, 

 36 (1912), No. J,, pp. 193-210, figs. J,; ahs. in Bot. CentU., 119 (1912), No. 21, p. 

 5ifl). — Determinations on a large number of sugar beets are said to have shown 

 that the weight of these roots is more readily modified than is the sugar con- 

 tent. The experiments did not tend to support the statement that the greater 

 the weight the less the sugar content, except in extreme and hence rare cases. 



The variability and relationship of weight and sugar content of sugar beets, 

 K. AndrlIk, V. Barto§, and J. Urban (Ztscfir. Zuckerkidus. Bohmen, 36 (1912), 

 No. J/, pp. 193-210, figs. -i). — Tables and charts present data obtainetl in statis- 

 tical studies of the weight and sugar contents of various strains of sugar beets. 



From data presented, the authors conclude that the weight of the beet root 

 shows fluctuating variability in accordance with the Quetelet-Galton law. Each 

 strain shows its own correlation between root weight and sugar percentage. In 

 only a few unusual cases does it occur that low sugar content accompanies a 

 very unusual root weight, and these cases probably result from abnormalities in 

 the use of plant food. 



Contribution on th.e relation between the sugar content and weight of 

 sugar beets, K. Novotny (Ztschr. Zuckcrindus. Bohmen, 36 (1912), No. 5, pp. 

 269-272). — This article presents the lesults of a further investigation and 

 verifies the conclusions of the paT)er noted above. 



Recent chemical and physiological investigations on the sugar beet (Inter- 

 nat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Bid. Bur. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 3 (1912), No. 4, 

 pp. 907-911). — The results of a number of recent investigations are given tend- 

 ing to the following general conclusions: 



" It may be considered as settled that a want of light is injurious to the beet 

 crop, giving ... a product of low industrial value. While it can not be denied 

 that sugar, as saccharoge, is formed in the organs of assimilation of the beet, 

 it is not equally certain that it circulates as such in its passage to the organs of 

 reserve. There is no doubt that beets in the second year of growth can produce 

 and store sugar. In general, the correlation between the decrease in sugar con- 

 tent and the increase of weight of root does not hold good. With a perfect selec- 

 tion (Elites) the injurious influence of root weight on sugar content can be 

 eliminated." 



A bibliography is appended. 



Influence of light on the development of the sugar beet, A. Sttft (Osten: 

 Ungar. Ztschr. Zuckcrindus. u. Landtv., J,0 (1911), No. 6, pp. 8/, 9-85 6). —The 



