FIELD CROPS. 221 



Brief directions for harvestiug, stripping, and assorting, and a 

 description of the barn are given. 



Types of tobacco and their analyses, F. B. Carpenter [North 

 Carolina Sta. Bui. 133, pp. 33l-3(i<l). — Tabulated analyses are given 

 showing the nicotin, nitrogen as nitrate, and total nitrogen in differ- 

 ent parts of the plant at different stages of growth, and the nicotin, 

 ether extract, albuminoids, nitric nitrogen, ammonia, cellulose, ash, 

 l>otash, lime, and chlorin in 29 samples of leaves of typical tobaccos, 

 exclusive of midrib, and of 29 samples of midrib. The following topics 

 are also treated of: Production of tobacco in the United States, varie- 

 ties and classification of tobaccos, tobacco soils, fertilizers, development 

 of nicotin in the tobacco plant, descrii)tions of typical tobaccos, and 

 relation between (diemical composition and burning quality. 



The nicotin at maturity is found mainly in the leaves. The percent- 

 age found in the whole leaf ranges in the tobacco grown in the United 

 States from 1.90 to 5.53. A coarse rank growth is associated with a 

 comparatively large amount of nicotin. 



The author states that the burning qualities are more largely depend- 

 ent upon the composition of the ash than upon the extent of fermenta- 

 tion; also that in these tests the best burning tobaccos were accom- 

 panied by a high percentage of ash constituents, particularly lime, and 

 by i)otash in proper combination. 



Among his general observations the author says: 



"The percentage of iiicotiu aud albumiuoids is matenally increased by the use of 

 large quantities of nitrogenous manures. 



"A large percentage of nitrogen in tbe form of albuminoids is usually accompanied 

 by a large nicotin content. 



"The percentage of nicotin in tbeleaf islargestjust as the leaf reaches maturity, but 

 the amount is materially reduced by the various processes of fermentation to ■which 

 the product is subjected before manufacture. 



"While nicotin is the active principle of tobacco aud is desirable to a certain extent, 

 it was found that the high-prued varieties contained a relatively small percentage. 



"The nitric nitrogen is chietly continedto the stems, and is not present in the leaf 

 in appreciable amounts, except when large (quantities of nitrogenous fertilizers are 

 present in the soil. Its presence as such seems to be of no special importance. 



"Relatively larger <iuantities of potash than of any other fertilizer constituent 

 seem to be required for the growth and production of a good quality of smoking 

 tobacco." 



Test of fertilizers on wheat, D. O. Nourse [Virginia Sta. Bui. 47, 

 pp. 141-144). — This is a continuation of work published in Bulletin 29 

 of the station (E. S. K., 5, p. 495). Nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and 

 potash were applied singly and in combinations of 2 and 3. The 

 yields are tabulated. 



The author concludes that phosphoric acid gives an increase in pro- 

 portion to the quantity applied up to 213^ lbs. per acre, and nitrogen 

 and potash seem to increase the product only when both are used in 

 combination with phosi)horic acid. 



Suggestions are given relative to conducting plat experiments on 

 farms. 



