258 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



arc reported. A number of the best varieties are described and their starch content 

 and starch production given. The variety President Kruger produced the largest 

 yield but was not so rich in starch as Richter Imperator, Gastold, and White Queen, 

 which yielded well and showed a good starch content. Irene, Sas, Apollo, and 

 Bund der Landwirte gave large yields of tubers high in starch. Up-to-date, Ella, 

 and Mohort are recommended as good table varieties. 



Potatoes, L. R. Taft and M. L. Dean (Michigan Sta. Bui. 214, pp. 18-22). — An 

 account is given of a test of nearly 150 varieties. The early varieties gave go< id yields 

 of fine quality. The results with the late varieties, owing to the season, were not so 

 satisfactory. About 70 varieties are briefly described and in some instances the 

 yields are reported. The highest yield among the early varieties, 367.64 bu. per 

 acre, is recorded for Irish Cobbler. This variety was followed by Coos Early with a 

 yield of 316.18 bu. per acre. Among the late varieties, Maggie Murphy has for 8 

 years given an average yield per acre of more than 200 bu. 



The use of rye grass in seed mixtures (Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 11, (1904), 

 An. ..', pp. 105, 106). — A brief account is given of experiments conducted by the 

 Edinburgh and East of Scotland College of Agriculture on the use of rye grass seed 

 in seed mixtures. 



It is a common belief that the failure of certain lands to carry grass is to some 

 extent due to the mixture of seed used. That generally employed consists of a very 

 heavy seeding of rye grass with from 7 to 10 lbs. of clover seed. The results of the 

 first year's trial showed that the quantity of rye grass can be advantageously reduced 

 and the clovers flourished better where the rye grass had only been used in moder- 

 ation or not at all. The results thus far obtained clearly indicate that overseeding 

 with rye grass is an important factor in preventing the growth and development of 

 clover. 



The influence of different-colored light on the growth of the sugar beet 

 (lllus. Landw. Ztg., 24 (1004), No. 24, pp. 208, 269, figs. 3). — Sugar beets were grown 

 under white, yellow, blue, and red glass and compared with specimens grown in the 

 open. The weight of the leaves and roots was ascertained in the beginning of the 

 experiments, August 1, and again on October 9 and November 13. 



Average weight of leaves and roots of sugar beets grown, under different-colored light. 



The sugar content was highest in the beets grown under blue glass, but the general 

 results indicate that the use of light of a certain color can not be of economic 

 importance. 



Report on experiments with sugar beet in 1902 and 1903, J. W. Paterson 

 ( ]Vest of Scotland Agr. Col. Bui. 21, pp. 06-40). — Experiments with sugar beets were 

 made in 1902 to test the quality of roots grown in the West of Scotland. The beet 

 crop followed oats and the land was prepared as for turnips. Ten tons of fresh barn- 

 yard manure, together with 4 cwt. of superphosphate, 2 cwt. of kainit, and 1 cwt. of 

 sulphate of ammonia were applied and the crop was top-dressed later with 1 cwt. of 

 nitrate of soda per acre. Analyses of the samples from the crop were compared with 

 those of beets grown in Germany, and are considered as showing a favorable com- 

 parison. The beets contained 16 per cent of sugar, with a purity of 87.95. 



