755 



The best distance for planting seems to be 15.6 by 11.7 inches. Earthing tip 

 slightly increased the yield. Partially removing the leaves produced a serious 

 decrease which was not compensated for in the value for forage of the leaves obtained. 



(4) Exjjcrimctttn li-illi turnips. — These Avere conducted in almost the same manner 

 as the jireccding and the results conlirmed those obtained in the last experiment. 



The author concludes that the fertilizer likely to give the most protitable returns 

 is a mixture of about 133.2 pounds of nitrate of soda and 267.2 pounds of super- 

 phosphate of lime per acre. 



TiiK PATKXTS ON Thomas SLAG.— The Gctman patents under which the Thomas 

 slag phosidiate is now manufactured expire within a short time, and the process 

 may then be ajtidied in any iron works. A more universal introduction of this proc- 

 ess will naturally result in an incieasing production of the phosphate slag. Since 

 the invention of the engineer Thomas in 1879 there has been a stead}- increase in the 

 production of this slag, as is shown by the tbllowing statistics from the Westpreus. 

 hiiuhv. Xdchrichi. In 1879 the production was only 12,200 tons ; in 1886 it had I'eached 

 1,313,031 tons ; in 1890, 2,103,082 tons. Up to the close of 1890 not less than 13,449,481 

 tons were juoduced. Over half the present annual production comes from Germany 

 and Luxemburg; England produces about 500,000 tons annually ; Austria and France 

 between 200,000 and 250,000 tons; and other ctumtries relatively small amounts. 

 Tliis investigation promises to be of benefit to agriculture the world over. 



HxmiUT OF THE WOOL ivDUSTRY. — This Department Is uow taking measures for 

 a thoroughly classified representation of the wool industry of the United States at 

 the World's Columbian Exposition. It is intended to include in the exhibit 100 sam- 

 ples of foreign wool. Of domestic wool about 2,000 samples will be shown of all 

 breeds and crosses raised in the country. The space available for this exhibit will 

 not permit of showing many whole fleeces; these will therefore be restricted to a few 

 taken from pedigreed sheep. Generally speaking, the sami)ies will be put up in glass 

 l)ottles hohling about a pound, and will be so arranged in the bottles as to show on 

 the one side the staple and on the other the skin side of the clip. 



Dehkhaix's treatise ox agricultural chemistry. — Compies reiidus, 114 (1892), 

 pp. 889-891, for April 11, contains an announcement of a Traite de Chimie Atjricole by 

 Deherain. The work is divided into three parts. The first part includes chapters 

 on germination; assimilation of carbon, nitrogen, and minerals; respiration and tbr- 

 niatiou of the principal organic products; movement of water in the plant; and growth 

 and maturity. The second part is on soils, mode of formation, physical properties, 

 composition, absorlient properties, and causes of sterility. The third part treats of 

 amendments and fertilizers, fallow, irrigaticm, lime, marl and plaster; vegetable, 

 animal and mineral fertilizers, and especially farm manures. Prominence is given 

 to the investigations of chemists connected with agricultural experiment stations and 

 laboratories. 



Ix memoriam.— On April 2, last. Prof. Gustav Kiibn of Miickern, Germany, died 

 after a short but severe illness, at the age of 53. Prof. Kiihn had been for nearly 25 

 years director of the experiment station at Mockern and was an exponent of the 

 most advanced investigation in nutrition of farm animals. 



