236 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



is considered adapted to the foothills of the Coast range. The African stock melon, 

 also called Tsaina or Khania melon, yielded over 19 tons per acre as against 10 tons 

 produced by Kansas stock melon. This variety has given a good yield with an 

 annual rainfall of 5.7 in. 



Fertilizer experiments, C. H. Shinn {California Sta. Rpl. 1899-1901, pt. 1, pp. 

 89-95, tigs. 4). — Tests with fertilizers for wheat, oats, and barley on several different 

 soils were made at the Foothill Substation, and with wheat at the Southern Coast 

 Range Substation. The fertilizers consisted of nitrate of soda, alone or with muriate 

 of potash and Thomas phosphate. There were increased yields with the fertilizers, 

 which were jjroti table in evi'ry case, whether the cereal was grown for grain or hay. 



Report on cultural tests in 1900, A. Pamseaux {Bui. Agr. [Brussels'], 18 {1902), 

 No. 1, pp. 9-22). — The results of variety and cultural tests with wheat, oats, sugar 

 and forage beets, colza, and lupines are bi-iefly considered. The culture of abutilon 

 for fil)er is discussed and the results of a culture test briefly given. 



Cooperative field trials with cereals, potatoes, and root crops in Norway, 

 1901, B. Larsen {Christiania, 1901, pp. 24). — The trials were conducted, under the 

 direction of the Agricultural College at Aas, Norway, on 129 plats located on farms 

 in different parts of the country, and on 9 plats on the college grounds. Compara- 

 tive variety tests were made with oats, barley, potatoes, root, and hay cnjps. The 

 varieties which produced the best average yields during the years 1889-1900 were as 

 follows: Oats — Baseler, Liihneburger Kley, Dujipauer, with average yields of about 

 56 bu. Iter acre; barley — Malum, Bj(")rneby, and Finne, six-rowed square varieties, 

 yielding about 40 bu. \k'V acre; jiotatoes — Bodo Original, Juvel Gra. and Lydia Gra. 

 with the highest average yield, of over 400 bu. per acre. The best varieties of the 

 root crops were Dale Hybrid yellow turnip, Greystone white turnip, Bangholm and 

 Lawson ruta-bagas, livid Pill and Red Oberndorfer fod<ler beets; Breustedt Neuere 

 Zucht and Schreiber Specialty sugar beets; and Altringham and Red carrots. — 



I\ W. WOLL. 



Analyses of root crops at different times during storage, IT. P. Larsen 



{Lamltmamieii, 12 {1901), No. 18, pp. i'cS'^-«'5^).— Monthly analyses of fodder beets, 

 ruta-bagas, and turnijis from the time of harvesting until the end of May showed 

 steadily decreasing contents of dry matter. The average results for fodder beets were 

 as follows: October, 1.3.64 jier cent; November, 13.06 per cent; December, 12.82 per 

 cent; January, 12.52 percent; February, 11.88 per cent; March, 11.37 percent; April, 

 11.07 ])er cent, and May, 10.64 per cent. This represents a loss of 3 percent in seven 

 months, or of 22 per cent of the original dry matter in the beets. Ruta-bagas con- 

 tained 12.47 per cent dry matter in November and 8.58 per cent in May, and turnips 

 9.53 per cent and 5.84 per cent for the same months, respectively. The larger the 

 roots the lower the percentage of dry matter and the yield of dry matter per acre 

 from the same number of plants. Data obtained with the " brine test" showed that 

 in general a high specific gravity is found in beets low in dry matter. Lots of 40 

 beets each having a specific gravity of 0.81, 1.06, 1.12, 1.30, and 1.31 contained 14.12, 

 13.13, 13.19, 12.41, and 12.82 per cent of dry matter, respectively. Analyses of dif- 

 ferent parts of beets and of smooth and irregularly shaped beets are also given. — 



F. W. WOLL. 



Chemical composition of some leguminous plants at different stages of 

 development, II. (i. SooERJSArM (A'. LaudL Akad. Ilaudl. Tidskr., 40 {1901), No. 

 5-6, pp. 364-381). — Analyses ot Astragalus glycyphyllus, Lathyrus pratensis, Medicago 

 saliva, Melilotus alba, Orobus niger, Trifolium pannonicum, and Vieia dumetorum are 

 reported. The samples for analyses were taken June 7, when the flower buds were 

 forming; June 21, at the beginning of the blossoming period; July 5, when the 

 plants were in full l)loom, and August 15, after the blossoming period had ended. 

 Moisture, ash, total nitrogen, ether extract, crude fiber, pentosans, and albuminoids 

 were determined. In all cases but two the percentages of pentosans, like those of 



