FIELD CROPS. 



839 



The results of analyses of 141 samples of root crops other than sugar 

 beets are shown in tbe following table: 



Composition and yield of root crops in 1S97. 



Water 



Protein 



Fat 



('rude fiber 



Ash 



Sugar 



Other components 



field per acre- (pounds) 



Carrots (20 samples). 



Range. Average 



Per cent. 

 85.02 89.59 



.72- 1.24 

 . 14- . 35 

 .96- 1.22 

 .69- 1.38 

 4.38- 8.34 

 1.81- 5.68 



Per cent. 



88.15 



.97 



.25 



1. L0 



.92 



5.87 



3. 00 



31, 850 



Kohlrabi (20 sam- 

 ples). 



Range. Average. 



Per (••■ill . 

 86. 27-91. 20 



.92- 



.10- 



1.01- 



.60- 



4. 95- 



1.09- 



1.89 

 .32 



1. 35 

 .97 



7. or. 

 3.37 



Per cent. 



88.41 



1.29 



.17 



1.14 



.71 



6.18 



2.24 



31, 630 



Yellow turnips (40 

 samples). 



Range. Average, 



Per cent. 



58.75-92.31 

 .75- 1.61 

 .04 . 28 

 .73- 1.42 

 . 49- 1. 07 



4.112 5. 00 

 . 33- 2. 78 



Per rent. 



90. 95 



1.01 



.14 



.94 



.68 



4.68 



1.63 



47, 550 



White turnips (13 

 samples). 



Fodder beets (36 

 samples). 



Water 



Protein 



Fat 



Crude fiber 



Ash 



Sugar 



Other components 



Yield per acre (pounds) 



Average. 



Range. 



Per cent. 

 92. :to 

 .81 

 .11 

 .80 

 .61 

 4.18 

 .99 



Per cent. 

 81. 70-90. 04 

 . 77- 1. 95 

 .06- .25 

 .67- 1.97 

 . 78- 1. 21 

 5.06-11.17 

 . 89- 4. 64 



Average. 



Per cent. 



85.67 



1.46 



.13 



1.03 



.99 



8.02 



2.67 



56, 320 



— P. AY. WOLL. 



The culture of beets on the experimental field at G-rignon in 

 in 1895, 1896, and 1897, P. P. Deheeain [Ann. Ayron., 24 (1898), 

 No. 2, pp. 49-83). — The work here reported consisted of variety and 

 fertilizer tests with fodder and sugar beets. The results for each year 

 are discussed separately and the weather conditions for each season are 

 described. The details of the experiment and the results are given in 

 tables. In 1895 only a few varieties of beets were tested, but drought 

 interfered with the experiment, and but little significance is given to 

 the results obtained. 



In 1896 4 varieties of beets, including the Vilmorin sugar beet, 

 were grown on plats which had produced wheat the preceding year. 

 On several of these plats the effect of inoculation with nitrified soil 

 was studied and compared with nitrate of soda. The author states 

 that the formation of nitrates due to the action of soil ferments is 

 insufficient in the spring for the needs of the plant, which may per- 

 haps be due to meteorological conditions or the possible failure of the 

 nitric ferments to become active until a month or 6 weeks after vege- 

 tation has begun to grow. A fertile soil had been taken up in the fall 

 and kept under conditions which favored nitrification in the winter. 

 In the spring furrows were made with a hoe between the rows of beets 

 and the nitrified soil scattered into them at the rate of 200 kg. per 

 hectare and covered. It is stated that the amount of nitrates thus 

 brought to the soil is too small to have much effect, and that the 



