FIELD CROPS. 33 



that in the method employed no account wa^ taken of the iodates which mi<j:lit he 

 present and wonld give the observed reai'tion with silver nitrate. 



The world's production and consumption of potash fertilizers, L. Grandeau 

 {Jour. A(jr. Prat., 1901, J, Xu. 10, j>p. S05-308). — This article notes briefly the sources 

 of potash, the discovery of the Stassfurt deposits, the extraction, preparation, and 

 production of the Stassfurt salts; and gives tables showing the composition, pro- 

 duction, and consumption of the different products. It is stated that the total 

 l)roduction of crude Stassfurt salts in 1899 was 2,737,965.38 tons (of 2,000 lbs.). 

 This includes 64,679.877 tons of carnalite and kieserite used for agricultural purposes 

 in Germany, and 5,082.37 tons exported to other countries for the same purpose, 

 besides 1,385,293.041 tons converted into concentrated potash salts; and 791,051.485 

 tons of kainit and sylvinite used for agricultural purposes in Germany, and 347,080.319 

 tons exported to foreign countries for the same purpose, besides 144,778.286 tons 

 converted into concentrated salts. 



FIELD CROPS. 



Farm notes, W. W. Cooke {Colorado Sta. Bui. 57, pp. 39). — This bulletin is a 

 resume of the results of different experiments with alfalfa, corn, potatoes, and sugar 

 beets, carried on at the station during the years 1894 to 1899. This work has all been 

 considered in former bulletins with the exception of the cooperative work on sugar 

 beets in 1899. The results of these tests show that beets planted on May 5 gave a 

 larger yield with a higher percentage of sugar and purity than beets planted earlier 

 or later. Planting in rows alternately 27 and 11 in. apart gave 4.4 tons of beets 

 more per acre than placing the rows uniformly 24 in. apart. The furrows for irri- 

 gating the beets were made in the 27 in. spaces. Seed irrigated when planted gave 

 better results than seed not irrigated, but the author believes that in this respect no 

 definite rule is applicable for all parts of the State since the results showed consider- 

 able variation, and he advises to irrigate the seed if within 5 days after planting there 

 are no indications of sprouting. The varieties Zehringen, Vilmorin No. 1, Vilmorin 

 No. 2, and Kleinwanzlebener were tested at the station. On heavy clay soil Vil- 

 morin No. 1 showed the highest percentage of sugar in the juice and of purity, while 

 on a clay loam soil Vilmorin No. 2 stood at the head. The average of 10 tests gave 

 an increase of 18 per cent in the weight of the crop as a result of subsoiling. 



Field experiments at Ghent, Belg-ium, P. de Caluwe {Expose Cult. Exper. 

 J(ird. Gand., 1898-99, pp. 82, pis. 3, dgm. 1). — The annual report on the work at the 

 experimental garden for the province of East Flanders. Fertilizer tests were made 

 with rye, oats, maize, peas, rape, chicory, fodder beets, and potatoes. In some cases 

 variety and culture tests were made in connection with the fertilizer experiments. 

 The experimental culture of comfrey and sacchaline w'as conducted as in previous 

 years, but these crops received no fertilizer applications. A series of fertilizer tests 

 were made on meadows, and the injurious effects of nitrate, perchlorate of soda, and 

 perchlorate of potash were studied. Daily meteorological observations for the year 

 lieginning October 1, 1898, are tabulated, and the weather conditions for each month 

 are discussed. The results of a variety test wdth potatoes are given in a table. The 

 use of potassium chlorid in the fertilizer application produced a considerable and 

 favorable effect on the yield of rye in every respect, but especially on the weight of 

 the grain. The rye from the plats having been furnished potash weighed 4.43 kg. 

 per hectoliter more than the grain from plats having received no potash. Thomas 

 slag increased the yield of oat straw as compared wdth mineral phosphates, but the 

 yield of grain was about the same. Alinit had no appreciable effect on the yield of 

 oats. 



Potassium chlorid as a fertilizer for peas increased the yield by 8.56 kg. of peas 

 and 16.8 kg. of straw per acre. Among several varieties of chicory, Smouter gave 

 the largest yield and Palingkop the highest percentage of dry matter. 



