FIELD CROPS. 137 



" The factorj' weight was rather less than three-quarters that of beets roughly 

 cleaned and topped. The yields from the best plats were about half those of 

 mangels grown alongside." 



Summary of ten years' experiments with, tobacco in Virginia, E. H. 

 Mathewson (Virginia Sta. Bui. 205 (,1914),. pp. 3-35, figs. 6).— This bulletin 

 summarizes in a general way work that has been previously noted in detail 

 (E. S. R., 20, p. 333; 22, p. 37; 25, p. 734; 27, pp. 436, 437). Descriptive notes 

 are here given of bright, dark, sun-cured dark, and olive-green or black-stem- 

 ming types of tobacco. The use of phosphates, nitrogen, potash, and rotation 

 of crops for dark tobacco soils are discussed as is also the work in the sun- 

 cured tobacco district regarding humus and fertilizers for flue tobacco. 



Experiments with dark tobacco, B. G. Anderson (Yirignla 8ta. Bui. 206 

 (1914), PP- 15, figs. 3). — This bulletin records the yields obtained by a six-year 

 rotation from 190S-1913 on Cecil sandy loam, Cecil clay, depleted Cecil clay, 

 and Iredell clay loam in Appomattox County, continuing work in cooperation 

 with the Bureau of Plant Industry of this Department, previously noted (E. S. 

 R., 20, p. 333). 



It seems that the fertility of the soil on these types has been fairly well main- 

 tained by the rotation followed, and the yields of grass have in most cases in- 

 creased. Notes are given upon the culture of the crops in the rotation. 



The records of fertilizer experiments with dark tobacco and crops grown in 

 rotation with tobacco indicate the value of a formula applying 250 lbs. dried 

 blood, 600 lbs. acid phosphate, and 100 lbs. sulphate of potash per acre. In 

 general, an application of 2,000 lbs. of burnt lime per acre increased the yields 

 of all of the rotation crops, legumes most notably. 



Yields of seven varieties of tobacco are given as ranging from 950 to 1,600 

 lbs. per acre on red clay soil. " The variety Lizard Tail showed superiority in 

 every way including quality, weight, and color in curing." 



Nicotin as a by-product of tobacco culture, E. Chuard and R. Mellet 

 (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 159 (1914), ^o. 2, pp. 208-210).— In a study 

 to determine the most profitable method of handling the tobacco crop to secure 

 the maximum amount of nicotin as a by-product, it was found that in general 

 plants not suckered were not good producers of alkaloids. The yield of nicotin 

 in the individual plant left in the field after the harvest, with the small buds 

 recently formed at the axils of the large leaves, was considerably superior 

 to that of individuals that were completely stripped. An application of nitrate 

 of soda to the stripped plants did not alter the relative composition of the 

 different plant organs, but increased the actual production of alkaloids per 

 plant and favored growth. 



Wheat in Alabama, J. F. Duggae and E. F. Cauthen (Alabama Col. Sta. 

 Bui. 179 (1914), PP- 103-124, pis. 2, fig. i).— This bulletin gives results of variety 

 tests, fertilizer experiments with wheat, and advice to farmers on the pro- 

 duction of wheat in Alabama, including data on disease, insect pests, and 

 weeds. 



Different varieties show average yields for four years or more varying from 

 13.6 to 18.2 bu. per acre. The varieties found to be best suited to Alabama 

 conditions were Alabama Blue Stem, Red Wonder, Golden Chaff, Currell, Fultz, 

 and Fulcaster. The protein content of 9 varieties ranged from 11.25 with 

 Alabama Blue Stem to 13.75 with Stoner. Twelve varieties are described. 



In regard to plowing under cowpeas and velvet beans, it is noted that " the 

 entire vines of these two legumes afforded a large increase as compared with 

 the weed plat. However, the entire plant in this case proved less valuable in 

 its first year effects than did the stubble of cowpeas and velvet beans. This 



