821 



From investigations on tlie disease known as "beet consuiuptiou" 

 {KHbcu.schicin((sucht), tbe author concludt's that (1) it is due to a local 

 and very injurious form of beet nematodes; (2) it can be entirely 

 checked by destroying- the nematodes; (3) it can be partially checked 

 by the liberal use of fertilizers. Experiments to determine the etiects 

 of various fertilizers upon the worms led to the conclusion that linu; is 

 more effective than kainit. 



From experiments with diffusion residue at beet sugar factories the 

 author concludes that residue which has been subjected to the action 

 of limewater with an alkalinity of 0.13 per cent, is completely free from 

 the nematodes, and that 0.05 per cent alkalinity is probably high enough 

 to kill the worms. 



Besides Heterodera schachtii several other enemies of the sugar beet 

 of less importance are briefly mentioned. 



Field trials with barnyard manure preserved with superphos- 

 phate gypsum, J. R. Schiffer {Zciincli. d.landw. Vcr.f. Rhchqjnus.sen, 

 1802^ pp. Jo, 44). — These trials were made to observe the practical results 

 of preserving barnyard manure with superphosphate gypsum, as shown 

 by the yield of potatoes and barley fertilized with preserved and unpre- 

 served manure. The superphosphate gypsum used contained 05 ])er cent 

 of gypsum; 12.6 per cent of soluble phosphoric acid, 8 per cent of which 

 was in the form of free acid ; and 2 per cent of inverted and 0.5 per cent of 

 insoluble phosphoric acid. A chemical test indicated that 100 pounds of 

 it was capable of retaining 11.4 pounds of nitrogen. When used it was 

 sprinkled over the manure in the stable every day. The manure was a 

 mixture from cattle, horses, and hogs. For a time no superphosphate 

 gypsum was added, but later, while the same rations were being used, 1 

 pound was added each day to the manure produced by one horse or cow, 

 and 0.2 pound to that produced by a pig. Plats oh three different kinds 

 of soil were manured with the preserved and unpreserved manure. The 

 unpreserved manure was spread on the land earlier in the spring, which 

 gave it some advantage over the other. The average yields of barley 

 and potatoes per acre are given as follows : 



Potatoes. Barley. 



"With preserved manure 247 bushels. 42. 1 bu.shels. 



AVith iiiiprescrvetl mamire 232 busliels. 34. 5 bu.shels. 



Difference 15 busliels. 7. G bu.shels. 



The potatoes where the treated manure was used averaged 21.0 jier 

 cent of starch, and those where the other was used 17.01 per cent. The 

 author calculates a net increase from the use of preserved manure over 

 the unpreserved of about #35 per acre in the trial with ])otatoes. These 

 results are for the tirst year after the application of the manure. 



Cooperative field experiments with barley, C. von Ecken- 

 brecher {iSlichs. landir. Zeitsch., 1892, pp. 138-142). — These were of the 

 nature of variety tests, but were made to test the applicability not only of 



