546 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The soy bean [Orgnan Ver. Oudleer, Jiijkft Lrmdhouvm-hnnl, IS {1901), No. 153, pp. 

 77-7!>). — This ai-ticle is a tjeneral discussion on the soy beau. 



The growth of sugar-beet culture {Bmunscliwc'ig Ldndiv. Ztfj.,69 {1901), No. 11, 

 pp. 47, 4S). — A brief note on the increase in sngar-beet culture in various countries. 



The gro-wrth of the sugar beet in England, A. D. Hall {.Tour. Southeast. Agr. 

 Col. Wye, 1901, No. 10, pp. 3-8) . — A discussion of the crop, yield, and cost, an<l a 

 report of a test with 6 varieties of sugar beets, all of which showed a high percentage 

 of sugar and a high coefficient of purity. 



Sugar cane and sugar beets, C. Daniel {Rec. Agr. He Maurice, 15 {1901), No. 2, 

 pp. 35-37). — A historical note on the manufacture of sugar from sugar cane and sugar 

 beets. 



Tobacco culture in Ireland {Farmers' Gaz., 60 {1901), No. 5, pp. 119, 120).— A. 

 brief report on exi)eriniental toliacco growing in Ireland. 



Influence of wheat farming upon soil fertility, H. Snyder {Minnesota Sta. 

 Bui. 70, pp. 247-266). — The experiments here reported are in continuation of work 

 previously noted (E. S. E.,9, p. 641). This work has now been in progress for 8 

 years, and has been conducted for the entire period as described in the previous 

 abstract. The chemical composition of the soil, the physical composition of the 

 subsoil, and the yields of the different plats for the years 1893 to 1900, inclusive, are 

 reported in tables, together with the moisture condition of the soil under several 

 systems of croi:)ping on different dates. The results are discussed with special refer- 

 ence to the loss of nitrogen and humus under the several methods of cropping. It 

 was found that the plat on which wheat had been grown continuously for 8 years 

 lost 1,700 lbs. of nitrogen per acre, of which only 300 ll>s. was used by the crop, the 

 rest being lost by the deejay of organic matter and the liberation of the nitrogen as 

 gaseous or soluble compounds. On this plat there was a loss for the 8 years of over 

 21 per cent of the total nitrogen of the soil, or an annual loss of 175 lbs. per acre over 

 the quantity used as plant food. Continuous wheat growing also caused an annual 

 loss of over 2,000 lbs. per acre of humus, due to the fermentation and decomposition 

 of organic matter in the soil. On the plat where wheat was grown in rotation with 

 clover and oats, 5 crops of wheat were produced during 8 years. In this case the 

 loss of nitrogen in excess of the quantity used by the crops was reduced to about 450 

 lbs. and the loss of humus from the soil was very small. Where oats and T)arley 

 were grown continuously on the same s(jil the loss of nitrogen was nearly as large as 

 in the case of continuous wheat growing. Corn growing from year to year on the 

 same land caused a loss of nitrogen less than one-half the quantity lost in growing 

 wheat continuously. The total loss of nitrogen from the soil for 8 years on the plat 

 where corn was grown in rotation with clover and oats and barnyard manure was 

 applied was less than 100 ll)s. m excess of the quantity utilized by the crops. It is 

 stated that corn introduced into a rotation decreases the loss of nitrogen as com- 

 pared with wheat. It was found that bare summer fallowing gave rise to a heavier 

 loss of nitrogen from the soil than continuous wheat growing. Summer fallowing 

 also favored the decay of humus. 



"The loss of humus changed the physical properties of the soil, causing it to be 

 less retentive of moisture, lighter in color, and heavier in weight per cubic foot. 

 During times of drought the soil from the continuous wheat cultivated plat contained 

 less water than the soil from the plat which produced wheat in rotation with clover. 

 Humus conserves the moisture of the soil, while the rotation of crops, the use of 

 farm manures, and the growing of clover conserves the humus of the soil." 



Winter wheat, A. M. Soule and P. O. Vanattek {Tennessee Sta . Bui., Vol. XIV, 

 No. 2, jjp. 35-64, figs. 13). — These experiments are in continuation of work formerly 

 reported (E. S. R., 12, p. 1035). The best yields of grain among 45 varieties tested in 

 1901 were made by Blue Ridge, Kansas Mortgage Lifter, and Dawsini Golden Chaff, 

 the yields being 40, 36.66, and 36.33 bu. per acre, respectively. In the average yields 



