FIELD CROPS. 637 



a test of 16 varieties. At the Alaska Stations, Swedish Select almost invari- 

 ahly matured either partially or entirely. Only the North Finnish Black "has 

 been constantly more successful than the Swedish Select." The opinions of 

 farmers are stated with the results of former tests in Washington, Idaho, 

 Colorado, Montana, Michigan, South Dakota, New York, and Wisconsin. 

 Tables show the weight per bushel and per thousand grains and percentage of 

 meat in kernel of a number of varieties grown in Wisconsin, Montana, North 

 Dakota, and Kansas, Swedish Select usually standing highest in these respects. 

 Chemical analyses have already been noted from another source (E. S. R.. 20, 

 p. 1063). An estimate is given of the value of the introduction of the Swedish 

 Select oat. 



Manurial experiment with oats: Humansdorp district, K. M. Johnsen 

 (Agr. Jour. Cape Good Hope, 36 {1910), No. 6, pp. 652-65^).— In a fertilizer 

 test with oats conducted on 3 different farms the greatest profit, £2 3s. 2d., 

 followed the application of 200 lbs. of superphosphate, while a loss followed 

 an application of 100 lbs. of nitrate of soda either with or without 20 lbs. 

 of sulphate of potash. 



Potato experiments and studies at University Farm in 1909, A. R. Kohi.kr 

 (Minnesota Sta. Bui. 118, pi). 67-L'fl, /i<j-s. 7). — Tables present at length the 

 yields of numerous varieties tested. Notes are given on each variety and a 

 classification of varieties is suggested. 



The average gain in favor of new seed stock over that which averaged 4.2 

 years older was 112.8 bu. per acre. Other experiments indicate that pieces 

 not less than 1 oz. in size should be planted and that this is a primary factor 

 for consideration in planting. Early Ohios harvested July 31 yielded 30.1) 

 bu. per acre. The average daily gain in weight of marketable potatoes secured 

 by digging during the next 30 days was 7.18 bu. per acre. The daily gain 

 near the end of the period was lower as the foliage died. " The quantity of 

 small tubers remained practically uniform throughout the period." 



Spraying plats of the Sir Walter Raleigh variety with 25 gal. i^er acre of a 

 5-5-50 Bordeaux mixture and 50 gal. at subsequent sprayings resulted in an 

 average gain of 16.8 bu. per acre. This gain, 10.1 per cent, was associated with 

 a gain of 8.3 per cent in condition of foliage. The previous year the percentages 

 were 9.1 and 7.2 respectively. Notes are given on results of spraying with 

 Paris green, commercial arsenate of lead, homemade arsenate of lead, arsenate 

 of soda, and arsenite of soda in amounts ranging from 2 to 6 lbs. per acre. 

 Paris green proved the cheapest and most reliable. 



Fertilizer tests with dried blood, acid phosphate, sulphate of potash, and 

 rotted manure indicated that the application of nitrogen or phosphorus alone 

 with or without manure was useless, while potassium with or without manure 

 was beneficial. Partially decomposed manure produced an average gain of 

 74.2 bu. per acre as compared with yields on the check plats. A complete com- 

 mercial fertilizer appeared to produce a larger gain when aitplied with manure 

 than when used alone. The average net profit from applications of 12 tons per 

 acre of manure was $17.52 per acre. 



Progress of the beet-sugar industry in the United States in 1909 (U. K. 

 Dept. Agr. Rpt. 92, pp. 87, figs. 2).— This consists of 3 parts. 



I. Report of the special agent, C. P. Saylor (pp. 7-70).— This report, which is 

 similar to those of previous years (E. S. R., 10, p. 43; 17, p. 31; 18, p. 34; 

 10, p. 32; 20, p. 441; 21, p. 431), outlines briefly the evolution of the beet- 

 sugar industry, gives directions for the production of the crop, and reviews con- 

 ditions and developments in each of the States having ono or more factories. 

 Statistics of the sugar industry and ftlans for extending the beet-sugar industry 

 in each of the principal beet-growing States are im-scntcd and discussed. 



