534 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



crops; a test of legumes as catch crops on loam soils; a comparison of 

 different methods of harvesting alfalfa and clover; a test of growing 

 sugar beets after alfalfa; and a study of the influence of different crops 

 on the moisture content of the soil. - The cultivation of the crops and 

 meteorological conditions of the seasons are described in detail and 

 the results given in tabular form. 



Experiments with sugar beets (pp. 82-94). — The object of these experi- 

 ments was to compare a number of varieties aud ascertain whether a 

 top-dressing of sodium nitrate would have an injurious effect on the 

 sugar content of the beets and whether certain varieties were more 

 sensitive to this treatment than others. The held on which the experi- 

 ments were conducted contained 11.19 acres and was divided into 6 

 plats, which were fertilized as follows : Plat 1 received 35.68 lbs. solu- 

 ble phosphoric acid and 356.84 lbs. nitrate of potash per acre at plant- 

 ing time (April 27); plat 2, 35.68 lbs. soluble phosphoric acid and 

 178.42 lbs. nitrate of potash per acre at planting time; plat 3 received 

 no fertilizer; plat 4, 178.42 lbs. nitrate of potash per acre on June 29, 

 but no phosphoric acid; plat 5 (a check plat) was fertilized the same 

 as plat 1 ; and plat 6 received 35.68 lbs. soluble phosphoric acid and 

 133.81 lbs. nitrate of potash at planting time aud the same amount of 

 nitrate of potash as a top-dressing on June 25. Owing to abnormal 

 conditions, the variety test was abandoned. The smallest amount of 

 leaves produced by any variety was 8,653 lbs. per acre and the largest 

 amount 12,266 lbs. There was no discernible relation between the 

 yield of leaves and the yield of beets, but there seemed to be a con- 

 nection, although not quite regular, between the amount of leaves and 

 the sugar content of the beets. Some of the more important varieties, 

 averaging 11,874 lbs. of leaves per acre, contained on an average 17.52 

 per cent of sugar in the beet, and two varieties yielding 9,867 lbs. of 

 leaves per acre had an average sugar content of 16.84 per cent, while 

 the varieties producing only 8,653 lbs. of leaves per acre contained 

 only 14.8 per cent of sugar in the beet. The entire structure of the 

 plant and the amount of chlorophyll and its condition are considered 

 equally important with the leaf surface; aud as the sugar content of 

 the beet depends on the amount of carbon dioxid assimilated, other 

 things being equal, the amount of leaf surface would influence the 

 sugar content. The sugar content of the beets was very satisfactory, 

 although the season was wet and there was but little sunshine. Dur- 

 ing the months of April to October, inclusive, the rainfall was 404.6 

 mm. (nearly 16 in.) and the amount of sunshine for the months of May 

 to October, inclusive, aggregated only 696 hours and 43 minutes. The 

 amount of sunshine during August and September was especially low, 

 aggregating only 128 hours 3 minutes. The longest time the sun 

 shone on any September day was 4 hours 10 minutes. The average 

 temperature during April to October, inclusive, was 57.6° F. ; the 

 highest average temperature for any month, 68.74°, was reached in 



