686 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



of a psycbrqmeter liung between the i)lants that the -wel bnlb shows a depression 

 below the dry one of not less than 1 or more than 2", nslng fire beat when necessary 

 to accomplish this object.'' 



This year's results confirm those of 1894. The author recommends 

 a minimum depression of 1J° of the wet bulb thermometer instead of 

 1°, to provide a Tvider margin between the safety and danger limits. 



The necessary loss of dry matter in corn silage, F. H. King 

 {Wisconsin St a. Bpt. 189 5 ^ pp. 273-278). — The difference between the 

 amount of silage put in and taken out, the computed loss of dry matter, 

 the amount of spoiled silage, and tlie dry matter it contained are given 

 for the years 1893 and 1891. The loss of dry matter is giveu as 4.95 

 per cent for 1893 and 9.38 per cent for 1894. The difference in the 

 results for the 2 years is ascribed to the corn being jiut in drier in 1893 

 than in 1894, to much later oj)ening of the silo in 1894, and to differ- 

 ence in the size of samples taken for analysis in the 2 years. 



The loss of the dry matter in the ears of corn was tested on a sample 

 of 40 lbs., one-half of which was put in the silo and one-half taken for 

 analysis. There was a loss of dry matter of 1.15 per cent. Pieces of 

 corn, stalks, and leaves were also cut in halves and i^ut in 2 sets of 3 

 loosely covered Mason cans; 3 were placed in the silo, the other 3 taken 

 lor analysis. The losses in dry matter of the ear, stalks, and leaves 

 are given at 4.90, 9.2, and 7.53 per cent, respectively. 



"It thus appears from a consideration of all the data here presented that the nec- 

 essary loss of dry matter in corn silage is considerably less than 10 per cent and is 

 probably as low as 5 to 8 per cent. If this proves to be the fact it is a very important 

 matter indeed, because if well-built silos and a proper handling of silage can reduce 

 the loss from 10 to 15 per cent below wbat has been reported as the average, such a 

 saving is a large addition to tlie profits of a farm wherever 100 or more tons of silage 

 are put up." 



Description of the principal varieties of fodder beets, H. L. de Vilmorin {Jour. 

 Agr. Prat., 61 (1897), I, No. 6, pp. 207-212, pi. i).— Description of 19 varieties. 



Trials of varieties of fodder beets, A. Jordan (Chron. Ayr. Cant. Vaud, 10 {1897), 

 No. S, pp. 75, 76). 



Notes on cauaigre examination, C. E. Colby {California Sta. Upt. 1895, p. 194). — 

 Roots were finely ground, repeatedly pressed, and extracted with water warmed to 

 132° F. The liquid extract was strained through fine linen, evaporated, and dried 

 at 132° F. The air-dried extract is nearly all soluble in warm water and contains 

 75.02 per cent of tannin. The " spent " cauaigre still contained considerable tannin, 

 so the author estimates that this method of extraction involves a loss of 13.4 per 

 cent of the total tannin of the fresh root. A comparison of the hide powder, gelatin, 

 and Neubauer-Lowenthal or permanganate methods indicated that all are safe 

 methods to use. 



The caiiaigre, or tanner's dock, E. W. Hilgard {California Sta. Ilpt. 1895, pp. 

 l*6-m?).— Revised from Ikilletin 105 of the station (E. S. R., 6, p. 715). 



Wild chicory and its culture, L. Lizix {Belfi. JTort. et Ayr., 9 {1897), No. l,p.5). 



Cultural value of red clover from seed of various origins, Strebel ( Wiirt. 

 Woclienbl. Laiuhv., 1897, No. l,i)p. 1, 2). — Comparison made at Hohenheim of French, 

 Russian, and German seed. 



Coffee culture, M. Fesca {Jour, Landiv., 25 {1897), No. 1, pp. 13-41). 



The cotton plant : Its history, botany, chemistry, culture, enemiee, and uses 

 {TJ.S.Dept. Agr., Office of Experiment Stations Bui. 33, pp. 433, pis. 4, Jigs. 32).— This 



