536 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD, 



Investigations on the morphological influence of fertilizers on the potato, 

 P. Vageler (Jour. Landic, 55 (1901). No. 3, pp. 193-21^). — The experiments 

 were coudncted on a newly reclaimed moor soil. Potash and phosphoric acid 

 were applied at the rate of 300 kg. and nitrogen at the rate of 100 kg. per 

 hectare, nud these substances were given in different combinations. The 

 potatoes were planted in rows 70 cm. apart, with 30 cm. between plants in the 

 row. The methods of obtaining material for study and the technical processes 

 of the investigation are described. 



It was found that nitrogen on this kind of soil, with a precipitation of 

 1,200 mm., tends to increase the number of stems in the plant, and that the 

 length of the stems is also favorably influenced. The effect upon the length of 

 the stems, however, is not so marked as upon their number. This influence 

 of nitrogen seemed t« be brought about even when the other phint food ele- 

 ments were lacking in the soil. Potash also showed its influence on the number 

 of stems, especially when phosphoric acid and nitrogen were lacking, but 

 [•hosphoric acid under the same conditions had a greater influence on the 

 length than upon the number of stems. It was found that when either potash 

 or phosphoric acid was not included in the fertilizer application better results 

 were obtained when potash was given than when phosphoric acid was applied. 



AVith reference to the structure of the leaf, it was found that a complete ap- 

 plication of minerals reduced the thickness of the leaf and that the thickness 

 of the epidermis depended upon a large supply of potash and to a smaller ex- 

 tent upon the supply of phosphoric acid. Nitrogen remained almost neutral in 

 this connection. The thickness of the loose parenchyma was found directly 

 proportional to the quantity of the complete fertilizer used, while in the case 

 of the palisade parenchyma the proportion was invertetl, ,^ 



Potato experiments in progress for 5 years on the experiment fields of the 

 Podolsk agricultural society, F. Luijansky {Abs. in Zhnr. Opuitn. Agron. 

 [Russ. .Jour. E.rftt. L<in(lir.], 8 (1907), No. 2, p. 231). — The results secured are 

 summarized in the following table : 



Average results with (liferent vaHctics of potatoes compared for 5 years. 



The action of manganese on the potato and the sugar beet, A. Gkegoike, I. 

 Hendkick and E. Carpiaux (Bui. Agr. [Brussels], 23 (1901), No. 6, pp. 3SS- 

 394). — The action of manganese on dift'erent crops as determined by various 

 investigators is reviewed, and the authors' results with potatoes and sugar beets 

 are briefly reported. 



The application of 10 kg. of manganese sulphate per hectare had no effect 

 upon the yield of potatoes, but an application of 50 kg. showed an appreciable 

 increase amounting to 5 to 9 per cent in dift'erent varieties. The application of 

 this substance had apparently no effect upon the yield of starch and it did not 

 increase the resistance of the plants to attacks of potato rot. Where the man- 

 ganese sulphate was used on soil well supplied with nitrogen its action was the 



