246 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Ill these experiments cultivation was performed with the plow alone, the plow sup- 

 plemented by the disk and middle cultivator, and the cultivator without the use of 

 the plow. The aggregate yields of sugar cane for four years in five different systems 

 of cultivation are reported, and it is shown that the use of the plow alone gave the 

 smallest tonnage of cane. The best yield was obtained from the use of the disk and 

 middle cultivators alone. These implements can be adjusted to make small or large 

 ridges and the depth can be regulated so that only a minimum amount of roots are 

 cut in cultivating. This method was found to conserve moisture and to increase 

 microbic action, greater numl)ers of microbes being found in a soil finely jiulverized 

 by the cultivators than in a cloddy soil worked with the plow. 



Fertilizing- experiments with, sugar cane, J. D. Kobus {Meded. Proefstat. Oost- 

 Java, 3. ser. , 1901, Xu. 31, pj). ~^J) . — The purpose of this series of tests was to determine 

 whether three successive crops of sugar cane can be economically taken from the 

 same soil and in what fertilizing elements the soil was deficient. The cane was 

 grown in 60 large boxes containing soil which had already produced two crops. 

 These boxes were divided into 5 series of 12 each. The first was a check series and 

 received no fertilizers; the second received sulphate of anunonia, and the third, 

 phosphatic slag; the next, sulphate of potash; and the last, sulphate of potash and 

 phosphatic slag. In addition to these fertilizers, the last three series received sul- 

 phate of anunonia. As compared with the check test, sulphate of anunonia increased 

 the yield by 53 per cent, showing that the soil was deficient in nitrogen. The lack 

 of phosphoric acid was even more apparent, since the plants receiving both these fer- 

 tilizers yielded 20 per cent more than the plants receiving only the sulphate of 

 ammonia. TIk^ addition of lime proved injurious, especially when applied in connec- 

 tion with phosphoric acid, in which case it reduced the yield and the sugar content. 



Chemical analyses of the cane revealed no material difference in the composition 

 due to the fertilizers applied. The plants which received sulphate of ammonia con- 

 tained more potash and sulphur and less phosphoric acid than the check plants. 

 Lime, although it affected the yield, did not change the composition. 



The following season showed that the application of nitrates generally increased 

 the yield, while the use of lime was injurious to the yield and the quality of the 

 juice. The unfertilized plants produced a juice of superior quality. The chemical 

 analyses of the plants grown the second year indicated that the fertilizers had no 

 effect on composition. However, the plants which did not receive sulphate of 

 ammonia were poorer in nitrogen, potash, suli)hur, and lime, and richer in phosphoric 

 acid than those receiving <lilTerent treatment, -n. m. pieters. 



New method of preserving sweet potatoes, J. S. Newman and J. S. Pickett 

 {South Carolina Sta. Bui. 71, pp. 6). — This method consists essentially in boiling the 

 sweet potatoes before evaporating them. Tests were made with a number of vari- 

 eties, and the results are shown in the following table: 



]'ield of KiDeet potatoes and evaporated prodxtct. 



Varieties. 



Pumpkin Yam 



Hanover Yam 



Extra Early Caroline . 



Red Nose 



Nan.semond 



Bunch Yam 



Georgia Sugar Yam . . . 

 Vineland Bunch Yam 



Jersey Big Stem 



Pierson Yam 



Jersey Red 



Yield ]KT acre. 



Bushels. 

 232 

 329 

 146 

 238 

 222 

 165 

 211 

 136 

 357 

 328 

 261 



Pounds. 

 13, 920 

 19, 740 



8,760 

 14, 280 

 13,320 



9,900 

 12,660 



8,160 

 21, 420 

 19, 680 

 16, 660 



Evaporated 

 product. 



Per cent. 

 24 

 26 

 25 

 24 

 22 

 18 

 23 

 22 



29.5 

 22 

 29 



Yie'.'.l per 

 acre of the 

 evaporated 



product. 



Pmmds. 

 3,340 

 5, 132 

 2,190 

 3, 427 

 2,930 

 1,782 

 2,911 

 1, 795 

 6,318 

 4,329 

 4,542 



