532 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



and grown in mixture with other varieties that formed nodules abundantly on 

 their roots. 



The cultivation of sugar beet in Norfolk and Suffolk, C. S. Okwin and J. 

 Orr (,Jo^lr. Bd. Agr. [London], 21 {1915), No. 11, pp. 969-987) .—This article 

 discusses methods and the economics of growing sugar beets in Norfolk and 

 Suffolk counties, England, and gives statistical data for the years 1912, 1913, 

 and 1914, showing the itemized cost of production on 16 farms that had from 

 4 to 70 acres of sugar beets. In Norfolk the cost per acre ranged from £7 5s. 6d. 

 to £12 4s. lOd., and in Suffolk from £7 9s. 7d. to £12 lis. 6d. The yields in Nor- 

 folk ranged from 8 tons to 13 tons 5 cwt., and in Suffolk from 2 tons 71 cwt. 

 to 9 tons 6 cwt. per acre. 



Single-germ beet seed, C. O. Townsend {Jour. Heredity, 6 {1915), No. 8, 

 pp. 351-35.'t, fig. 1). — This article notes the success attained in the production of 

 single-germ seeds in sugar beets by selection. The author states that "our 

 selected plants are now producing about 75 per cent of single-germ seeds, and 

 individual plants in a few cases show a somewhat higher percentage than this. 

 The work and progress of single-germ beet seed production is based upon the 

 fact that certain beet plants possess the ability so to develop the seed stems 

 that the buds and flowers are separated from each other in the process of 

 growth. This tendency to separate the flowers and thereby to produce single- 

 germ seeds seems to be transmissible from parent to offspring ; whether or not 

 this will become a fixed character time only can tell. The indications are that 

 this character will become fixed." 



Report of the seedling expert. H. B. Cowgill {Rpt. Bd. Comrs. Agr. P. R., 

 3 {1913-14), pp. 55-63). — This reports work in progress in sugar-cane culture. 



In fertilizer experiments with second ratoon cane it was shown that the 

 best yield (15.G5 tons per acre) was obtained by the use of 120 lbs. each of 

 nitrogen and potash and 60 lbs. of phosphoric acid. This yield was 9.35 tons 

 above the average of the check plats. The application of 2.000 lbs. of lime per 

 acre increased the yield about one-third over an average of all fertilized plats. 



In spacing experiments 1^ continuous rows of seed and seed placed end to 

 end gave larger yields than one seed every 2 ft, 1 seed every 3 ft., 2 seeds 

 every 3 ft., and 2 seeds every 4 ft. in rows 4, 5, and 6 ft. apart. 



Results of variety tests of cane grown on lowlands and highlands are given. 



Manurial experiments, H. A. Tempany et al. {Imp. Dept. Agr. West Indies, 

 ^ugar-Cane Expts. Leeward Isl., 1913-14, pt. 2, pp. 52-78, pis. 2).— This article 

 gives in detail the results of manurial experiments with sugar cane for the season 

 1913-14 and a summary including results for several years. 



" It has been shown that under average conditions the amounts of manurial 

 constituents supplied in a dressing of pen manure at the rate of 20 tons to the 

 cere, applied before the crop of plant cane is established, provide suflScient food 

 for the production of a crop of plant canes, first ratoons, and possibly second 

 ratoons; the augmentation of this supply by an additional dressing of pen 

 manure or artificial manures is unattended by corresponding substantial in- 

 creases. This result is attributed to the limitation of the water supply avail- 

 able for growth. 



" With an increase in potential productivity consequent on a more regular 

 water suply it seems reasonable to suppose that such additional manuring 

 would be likely to prove profitable. The beneficial action of quick-acting ni- 

 trogenous manures on ratoon canes is attributed to the fact that they stimulate 

 recovery from the check to the growth incident on the reaping of the previous 

 crop, whereby the plant is enabled rapidly to resume its physiological func- 

 tions, and to continue to utilize the store of manurial material derived from 

 the original application of pen manure. Additional confirmation is given to 



