1036 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



A report of the cultural experiments at the agricultural college 

 at Carlsburg ( Bui. Agr. [Brussels], 14 {1898), No. 6, pp. 612-619, pl.l).— 

 The results of fertilizer and cultural experiments with oats and pota- 

 toes carried on for 13 years are tabulated, and the results obtained 

 during the season of 1898 are discussed in detail. The fertilizers 

 applied were barnyard manure, a complete commercial fertilizer, a fer- 

 tilizer which furnishes nitrogen only, and fertilizer mixtures in which 

 either nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash, or lime was lacking. In gen- 

 eral, barnyard manure gave the best results. 



Harrowing meadows proved effective in the destruction of weeds. 

 Spraying a weedy field of oats with a solution of a mixture of copper 

 sulphate and ferrous sulphate (7i kg. per hectoliter of water) resulted 

 in the destruction of the weeds without a bad effect on the oats or the 

 clover which grew under it. 



Distance experiments -with sugar beets and fertilizer tests 

 with potatoes, C. von Seelhorst (Fiihling's LancLw. Ztg., 17 (1898), 

 No. 8, pp. 300-302). — Better results were obtained when beets were 

 planted 20 cm. apart in rows 20 cm. apart than when either of the dis- 

 tances was 30 or 40 cm. The fertilizer experiment with pot a toes showed 

 that kainit, carnallit, and muriate of potash, when applied late, 

 decrease the starch content of the tubers, while sulphate of potash and 

 carbonate of potash and magnesium increased the starch content. 

 Muriate of potash, sulphate of potash, and carbonate of potash and 

 magnesium were the most effective in increasing the total yield. 



The composition of sugar beets rich in sugar (Chem. Ztg., 22 

 (1898), No. 98, p. 1035). — In 1898 1,200 samples of sugar beets analyzed 

 in the State Laboratory at Lowen, Belgium, showed an average sugar 

 content of 1G.4 per cent. From a comparison of the composition of 

 rich sugar beets it is concluded that the percentages of nitrogenous 

 and mineral substances and cellulose decreases as the sugar content 

 increases; further, that the sugar content of the beet increases as the 

 percentage of lime in the beet increases and the percentages of potash 

 and phosphoric acid decrease and that the content of magnesia remains 

 relatively the same. 



The influence of different rates of fertilization on the yields of 

 cultivated plants, E. Wollny (Bl. Zuclcerriibenbau, 5 (1898), No. 4, 

 pp. 369-373). — From the results of growing sugar beets, maugel-wurzels 

 and potatoes fertilized with different amounts of a mixture consisting 

 of equal parts of superphosphate, chlorid of potash, and nitrate of 

 soda, the author concludes that the yield increased with the increase 

 of plant food up to a certain point, when the rate of increase in the 

 yield began to diminish and finally reached a point beyond which the 

 increase of plant food became unprofitable. 



Report of field experiments, 1897-98, A. Damseatjx (Bid. Agr. 

 [Brussels], 14 (1898), No. 6, pp. 591-605).— -The results of fertilizer 

 experiments with cereals and root and forage crops are reported. 

 Among 13 varieties of wheat Carte*: D, Barbu jaune a epi carre, 

 Standup, and Bivett Bearded, in the order given, were the most pro- 



