234 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the third the sugar content of the mother and the avei-age sugar content of 

 the progeny were identical. The sugar content of the mother beets ranged 

 from 1!).9 to 20.2 per cent. 



A hundred individuals each grown from three isolated beets low in sugar, but 

 coming from strains high in sugar and high in transmissible power, contained 

 on an average 1.36 per cent more sugar in one instance, 2.55 per cent more iu 

 another, and 1.2 per cent more in a third. In this observation the mothers 

 contained 15.2 per cent, 15.4 per cent, and 16 per cent of sugar, respectively. 



The polarization of beets iu 1896 as compared with data secured in 1908 

 shows an important improvement in the quality of the mother beets, but the 

 figures also point out that a reduction in variability has taken place. The data 

 which are here discussed were furnished by growers of sugar beet seed and 

 breeders of sugar beets. 



The sugar content of the beet in its relation to seed production, Y. Bartos 

 (Ztschr. Zuclterindus. Bohnien, 33 (1909), No. (!, iJi). 361-366). — From the ob- 

 servations reported it is concluded that as the sugar content of beets is in- 

 ireased their seed production is diminished. Attention is called to the fact 

 that this does not indicate that strains low in seed in-oduction are rich in sugar. 



Experiment with nitrog-enous fertilization, H. Agee {La. Planter, 42 (1909), 

 No. 11, PI). 170, 111). — This paper, read before the Louisiana Sugar Planters' 

 Association, March 11, 1909, summarizes the results secured with nitrogenous 

 fertilizers in growing sugar cane. The nitrogen was applied in different forms, 

 at the rate of either 24 or 48 lbs. per acre. Where acid phosphate and sul- 

 phate of potash were used they wei'e given in quantities furnishing 72 lbs. of 

 phosphoric acid and 50 lbs. of potash per acre. The experiments covered the 

 period from 1899 to the present time. 



The average yield of the unfertilized plats was 31.06 tons of cane. Where 

 24 lbs. of nitrogen was applied there was an increase of 1.76 tons over this 

 yield, where 48 lbs. was used an increase of 3.77 tons, where 24 lbs. of nitrogen 

 was used with mixed minerals an increase of 3.33 tons, and where 48 lbs. of 

 nitrogen was used with mixed minerals an increase of 4.22 tons. In 1908 where 

 nitrogen alone was given there was an increase in tonnage over the check plats 

 of 2.67 tons per acre, with 24 lbs. of nitrogen and mixed minerals an increase of 

 4.88 tons, and with 48 lbs. of nitrogen and mixed minerals an increase of 7.10 

 tons. These results as compared with the average yields 10 years before show 

 an increase of 0.75, 0.97, and 2.94 tons, respectively. 



Fertilizing tobacco, J. T. Crawley (E.stac. Cent. Agvon. Cuba Bill. 16, 

 English Ed., pp. 26, pis. 12). — This bulletin is a report on extensive fertilizer 

 tests with tobacco carried on in different tobacco growing districts for 2 years. 



The results indicate that very heavy dressings of barnyard manure are not 

 so profitable as smaller quantities used in connection with green manuring 

 with cowpeas, velvet beans, and similar crops and with applications of com- 

 mercial fertilizers. On land in good physical condition commercial fertilizers 

 gave much more profitable returns than manure. Phosphoric acid was found 

 to be the dominant element on the red lands. Nitrogen and potash in com- 

 mercial fertilizers" produced but little effect in these experiments. The author 

 recommends sowing velvet beans or cowpeas on well prepared land at the 

 beginning of the spring rains, plowing them under and applying from 5 to 10 

 tons per acre of barnyard manure or other organic matter about 2 months 

 before the tobacco is to be planted, and to treat the land about 2 weeks before 

 planting with 1,200 to 1.500 lbs. per acre of a fertilizer containing 10 per cent 

 soluble and available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent potash from sulphate or car- 

 bonate of potash, and 3 per cent nitrogen derived from sulphate of ammonia, 

 nitrate of soda or dried blood. 



