FIELD CROPS. 777 



Potatoes, test of varieties, Vj. H. IlTS.iis{Pennfiylranin Sfa. Rpt.1895, 

 pp. 4?i7-^^/'o).— Twenty-three Viirieties of potatoes were tested on plats 

 manured with 18 tons of barnyard manure per acre. IvTo seed tubers 

 were i)lanted whole. The yields for 189;") and the averages for 2 years 

 are tabulated. The larjj^est yields were given by Kew liovee Seedling, 

 Early Everett, New (Jueen, l^'reenian, Pennsylvania Best, and Carman 

 Ko. 1. 



Experiments -with nitrate of soda and nitrate of potash upon 

 sugar beets, with notes upon top-dressing, Schneidewint) and 

 MuLLEK {Jalirb. ((<jr. clicm. Vers. Stat. HaUe, HSDo^pp. 31,32). — Experi- 

 ments on sugar beets continued for 2 years indicated that nitrate of 

 soda exerted a more favorable influence than nitrate of i)otasb in years 

 of short vegetative period, but that the difference disappeared in seasons 

 of longer vegetative growth. Tiie authors believe this to indicate that 

 the sodium salt is a quicker acting i'ertilizer than the potash salt, which 

 they attribute to the better solubility and diffusibility of sodium nitrate. 



When part of the nitrate was applied as a top-dressing 08 per cent of 

 the nitrogen was utilized, but when it was all applied before seeding 

 only 42.5 per cent was used. The sugar content of the beets remained 

 the same under both methods of application, but the ash content was 

 slightly increased by the top dressing. 



The burning qualities of tobacco, J. Nessleb {Jour. Landw., 44 

 {1896), No. 4, pp. 357-362). — A reply to a criticism by A. Scerhati^ of 

 a former article by the author.' The latter maintains the correctness 

 of his earlier conclusions and gives the following in addition: 

 • (1) Every one-sided manuring with chemicals, as with sulphate of 

 ammonia, nitrate of vsoda, or potash salts, is injurious to the quality 

 of tobacco. 



(2) In soils rich in phosphoric acid application of phosphates is not 

 only useless but sometimes harmful, 



(3) Barnyard manure lightens the soil, retains moisture, and contains 

 materials which gradually become soluble and aftbrd a lasting and reg- 

 ular supply of nutrients for the use of the plant. The quality of tobacco 

 depends i^rimarily upon the regular development of the plant, so that 

 barnyard manure can not be replaced by rich but more slowly acting 

 fertilizers, such as peat. Under otherwise similar conditions, the best 

 tobacco will usually be obtained from a soil enriched by abundant, 

 regular applications of barnyard manure. 



Wheat, test of varieties, E. H. Hess [Pennsylvania Sta. Ej^f- 1895y 

 pp. 237-240). — Forty-eight varieties were grown on thirtieth -acre plats. 

 The yields of grain and straw for 1895 and the average of 20 varieties 

 for G years are tabulated. The varieties giving the highest yields in 

 1895 were Mealy, Keliable, Koyal Australian, ]\Iiami Valley, American 

 Bronze, and Jones Square Head; in the average for C years Keliable, 



J Jour. Landw., 43 (1805), No. 4, p. 379 (E. S. R., 7, p. 950). 

 ^Laudw. Vers. Stat., 40, p. 395 (E. S. R., 4, p. 302). 



