146 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



given iii tables. The work of previous years in this line is briefly 

 reviewed. 



The average sugar content in the juice for the different regions 

 ranged from 14.7 to 19.6, and the coefficient of purity from 81.6 to 87.8. 

 The average for the ten regions was 16.4 per cent of sugar in the juice, 

 with a purity of 85.6. Analyses were made of 951 beets, averaging 

 383 gm. in weight. 



The results of a test of five foreign varieties made at the station are 

 given in a table. 



Utah sugar beets, 1897, J. A. Widtsoe ( Utah Sta. Bui. 53, pp. 87- 

 lir,). — In this bulletin the mean temperature and the precipitation at 

 the station for each month for the years 1891 to 1897, inclusive, and the 

 results of cooperative culture experiments with sugar beets are given 

 in tables. Of the samples analyzed 211 were grown in eight different 

 counties. \ were received from Idaho, and 54 were taken from the sta- 

 tion farm. These 269 samples showed an average of 14.24 per cent in 

 the juice, with a purity coefficient of 83.1. 



Field experiments, C. D. Smith (Michigan Sta. Rpt. 1896, pp. 110- 

 114). — An outline is given of experiments conducted on the college 

 farm during the year. The details are published in other publications 

 of the station (E. S. R., 8, pp. 882, 883; 9, p. 131). 



Subsoiling experiments (p. 114). — Of three plats of sandy soil the first 

 was plowed 4 in. deep, while the other two were plowed 8 in. deep, but 

 one of these was subsoiled 6 in. below the furrow. In 1895 and 1896 

 all plats were planted to corn. The second year the depth of plowing 

 for all plats was 6 in. The first year was unusually dry, while the 

 second year was unusually wet. The subsoiled plat produced a 

 slightly better yield than the plat not subsoiled in 1895. but the second 

 year there was no apparent gain. 



In addition the article contains accounts of dynamometer tests and 

 observations on the shrinkage of cord wood (p. 195). 



On the possibility of improvement of agricultural plants, II. NiLSSON (Ber 

 Andra Nord. Landtbr. Kongr., Stockholm, 1897, I, pp. 454-457; 11, App. 16, pp. 40, ill. ) 



Report of the Department of Agriculture, New Brunswick, 1897, C. H. 

 Labillois (Rpt. on Agr. for New Brunswick, 1S97, pp. 1-100). — The crops of 1897 

 under general cultivation in the province are briefly described and the meteoro- 

 logical data for the season tabulated. The reports and accounts of 51 agricultural 

 societies for the year are given. 



Planting at different depths, P. G. Holdex, F. P. Clark, and A. A. Ckozier 

 (Michigan Sta. Rpt. 1896, pp. 200,201). — A reprint from Bulletin 125 of the station 

 (E.S.E., 7, p. 395). 



Alfalfa, H. Hitie'r (Jour. Aijr. Prat., 62 (1898). No. 17, pp. 601-603).— An article 

 discussiug the extent of alfalfa culture in France and the value of the crop as a 

 feeding stu If. 



Alfalfa, A. A. CKOZIEK (Michigan Sta. Rpt. 1896, pp. 197, 198). — A reprint from 

 Bulletin 125 of the station (E. S. R., 7. p. 396). 



Variations in the hereditary ability of certain characters in the hybridiza- 

 tion of barley, P. Bolin (Ber. Andra Nord. Landtbr. Kongr., Stockholm, 1897, II, App. 

 11, pp. IS). 



