FIELD CROPS. 737 



In several instances the meteorological data in the above table are taken from the 

 records of the station nearest to the locality reported. At t\w Utah Station, where 

 the beets were grown under irrigation, the sugar content varied from 15 to 18 per 

 cent. The advisal)ility of applying water to a beet field as late as September 1 is 

 considered doubtful. The influence of fertilizer was studied in connection with this 

 work at the Wisconsin Station, where a fertilized porticni of a plat yielded almost 4 

 tons more per acre and produ(!ed a richer beet than an unfertilized j)ortion. The 

 general results show that a high sugar content and a high latitude ran very evenly 

 together. The highest jjercentage of sunshine, nearly 75 per cent of the possible 

 hours of sunlight, was recorded at Lexington, Ky., and the lowest, 59.2 per cent, at 

 Agricultural College, Mich. The observations on the influence of sunlight seemed 

 to show that the diffused light coming through the clouds is apparently as effective 

 as the direct sunlight. The results further show that a low sugar content was closely 

 associated with a high temperature, and that the purity of the juice, although sub- 

 ject to many variations, had a general tendency to follow the percentage of sugar. 

 The figures also show a direct relation of the average length of day from sunrise to 

 sunset to the sugar content of the beet. The short day was associated with a low 

 sugar content, and the long day with a high sugar content. The rainfall, especially 

 in its distribution, was found to bear a very important relation to the sugar content. 

 "The ideal conditions for the growth of the beet are an even distribution of the rain- 

 fall of from 8 to 4 in. during the months of May, June, July, and August, and a reduc- 

 tion of the rainfall for September and October." 



The influence of intensely drying the soil on the development of the 

 sugar beet, J. J. Vanha {Ztschr. Landw. VersucJisiv. Oesterr., 4 {1901), No. 5, pp. 

 563-566). — A quantity of clay soil of uniform texture was divided into 3 parts, 

 the first being given an ordinary moisture content; the second, thinly spread out 

 and completely dried by the action of the sun, and the third portion placed in an 

 open kettle and subjected to a temperature of from 80 to 100° C. until dry as dust. 

 These differently treated soils were then put in pots for the growth of sugar beets. 

 All pots were given the same quantities of water and fertilizers with the exception 

 of the check pots, which received no fertilizer. The total yield of the fertilized as 

 well as the unfertilized pots was increased by drying the soils. Drying at from 80 to 

 100° C. gave the best results, more than doubling the yield. The quality of the 

 beets was also favorably influenced by drying the soil. The total yield of sugar was 

 increased as the drying of the soil was intensified. The purity coefficient was dimin- 

 ished slightly on account of an increase in the solids not sugar. 



A note on teosinte, C. Chalot {Agr. Prat. Pays Chauds, 1 {1901), No. 1, pp. 

 129-136). — A general discussion on the culture of teosinte and a report on a cultural 

 test with this plant made at the experiment station at Libreville, in the French Kongo 

 country. The chemical composition of the plant is given. 



Wheat {Kentuckij Stn. Bui. 94, pp. 121-180, pU. 2). — Variety tests with w'heat are 

 rei>orted and botanical descriptions of the different varieties, with field notes on the 

 same, are given. Similar work has been previously reported (E. S. R., 12, p. 1035). 

 The season of 1901 was unfavorable, and the yield was about one-third less than the 

 year j)revious. Dawson (iolden Chaff, Lancaster Red, Indiana Swamp, Beei-h-wood 

 Hybrid, Rudy, Fultz, and Harvest King were the most productive varieties during 

 this season, yielding 30.6, 31.5, 31.7, 33, 33.4, 36.3, and 36.3 bu. per acre, respectively. 

 The weight per measured bushel for the different varieties was much less this season 

 than in 1900. 



Macaroni wheats, M. A. Carleton {V. S. Dept. Agr., Bureau of Plant Industrti 

 Bui. 3, pp. 62, plx. ll,figii. 2). — This bulletin treats of the characteristics, distribu- 

 tion, adaptability, cultivation, and marketing of macaroni wheats; discusses the 

 effects (if local variations in soil and cliinatc on the (juality of these wheats, and 

 briefly reports the results of experimental comijarisons of varieties. Statistics are 



