856 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Experiments with hemp, Y. Y. Yiner {Khozyaime, 1901, No. 47-48; rev. in Zlmr. 

 Opuiin. Agron. IJour. Expt. Landw.], 3 {1902) , Xo. :S,pp. 248, ;?^9).— Fertilizer, variety, 

 and seeding tests with hemp are reported. The results of the fertilizer experiments 

 indicated that phosphoric acid was the only element capable of jiroducing a marked 

 improvement in the growth. Nitrogen stood second in effectiveness and potash 

 last. It is said that the plant food requirements of hemp resemble those of the 

 grasses, with the exception that hemp prefers nitrogen to potash. Tlie average crops 

 from plats without fertilizers with applications of phosphoric acid, potash, and nitro- 

 gen alone, and with a combined application of the 3 elements, bore the same rela- 

 tion to each other as 178, 236, 164, 203, and 268, respectively. Phosphoric acid 

 equally affected the formation of stems, fiber, and seed. Potash mainly improved 

 the yield of seed, and nitrogen increased the yield of fiber. The results further 

 showed that hemp readily assimilates the phosphoric acid from bone meal. 



From observations in connection with the seeding experiments it is concluded that 

 on poor soils tiie crop should Ije thickly sown. — p. fireman. 



Novel system of potato production {Gardening, 11 {1903), No. 252, p. 183, 

 figs. 2) . — An account is given of securing new potatoes from old seed left in caves at 

 the end of the year. The old potatoes were placed in one end of a dark cellar on 

 the ground and partially covered over with sifted sand. In this position they pro- 

 duced a large numl)er of small tubers, but scarcely any leaves or stems. By a proper 

 succession of layering, young ]wtatoes were gathered throughout the autunm and 

 winter. 



Rape as a forage crop, A. S. Hitchcock ( V. S. Dept. Agr., Fanners' BnJ. li;4,]>p. 

 16, fig. 1).- — This l)ulletin gives a description of rape and the varieties which have 

 come into prominence; outlines the value of the plant for feeding purposes and its 

 uses as a catch crop, weed destroyer, vegetable, and cover crop; and discusses in a 

 general way the culture of the crop, with notes on soil requirements and preparation, 

 seeding, cultivation, and harvesting. Brief notes on rape growing in several States 

 are also presented. 



Culture and composition of rice, G. d'Utra {BoL Agr. Sno Panlo, 3. ser., 1902, 

 No. 9, j}p. 571-583). — A general discussion on the culture of the crop is given, and 

 the results of analyses of samples of rice grown in different localities in southern Brazil 

 are shown in tables. 



Root crops in Montana, R. S. SnAw {Montana Sta. Bid. 40, pp. 20). — This 1ml- 

 letin gives popular descriptions of the culture of sugar beets, mangels, carrots, tur- 

 nips, and potatoes under Montana conditions. In addition to treating each crop 

 individually a general discussion on growing root crops, including notes, are given 

 on soil preparation, seeding, harvesting, and storing. The bulletin also gives direc- 

 tions for the preparation of the seed and for treatment to prevent scab. 



Sugar beets, F. W. Traphagen {Montana Sta. Bui. 41, pp- S). — The results of 

 analyses of sugar beets grown by farmers in cooperation with the station in 1902 are 

 briefly presented. The number of samples is considered insufficient for drawing 

 general conclusions. The richest sample contained 24 per cent of sugar in the juice. 

 Results for several years have indicated that the sugar-manufacturing campaign in 

 Montana could begin about the middle of September. This season excellent results 

 were olitained, although very little water, and in some instances none, reached the 

 crop during the growing season. 



Sugar-beet speculation, A. B. Leckenbv and R. Withycombe {Eastern Oregon 

 Sla. Bid. 1, pp. 11, figs. 10). — The injuries resulting from boring sugar beets are dis- 

 cussed and illustrated. A study of these injurious effects was made by boring 2 

 mother beets and allowing them to grow with their centers thus destroyed. Two of 

 the samples contained more than 22 per cent of sugar, but the season's growth after 

 boring contained less than 10 per cent in one, while the other contained no sugar at 

 all. All of the ])ored beets grew into highly distorted forms. 



