1916] FIELD CROPS. 139 



Horse labor was found to constitute 21 per cent of the cost, 110.6 horse hours 

 being required, costing at 10 cts. per hour $11.06. The average of all farms 

 gave a cost of .$9.97 per acre for horse labor, of which one-third was spent in 

 marketing the beets. 



The average rate of seeding was 17 lbs. per acre at a cost of $2.57 with the 

 seed at 15 cts. per lb. The machinery cost varied with the use or nonuse of 

 the manure spreader, but averaged $1.21 per acre. Commercial fertilizer was 

 applied in 5 of the 11 localities studied, but the results in yields gave no indi- 

 cation of its value. The average cost per acre was $1.78 for about 120 lbs. 

 On these farms fi'om 6 to 16 loads of manure were usually applied for the beet 

 crop and the labor of application, the only charge made, amounted to $3.66 per 

 acre. Land rental constituted 15 per cent of the total cost, the average cash 

 rental paid and interest at 6 per cent on owned land amounting to $7.74 per 

 acre. 



The total cost of production per acre was $47.65. On the average normal 

 yield basis of 9.82 tons per acre, the cost was $4.85 per ton. The receipts were 

 $5 per ton in each case, leaving a profit of 15 cts. or $1.45 per acre. In addi- 

 tion to this the producer received $7.74 per acre as land rent and $23.31 as pay 

 for his own labor, a total income over other expenses of $32. .50 per acre. With 

 the employment of contract labor, the producer had $15.31 per acre for rent, 

 for his own labor, and for profit. 



The yields varied from 5 to 22 tons per acre with a normal average for 

 the three years of 9.82 tons. The average of the estimates of the value of 

 beet tops by the growers was $4.40 per acre. It was also estimated that an 

 increase of 6 bu. of wheat and of 4 to 6 bu. of barley and oats may be expected 

 when these crops follow sugar beets. 



Sweet potato culture in Arkansas, W. H. Wicks (Arkansas Sta. But. 124 

 {1915), pp. 3-31, figs. 21). — This bulletin is a brief popular treatise on the 

 culture of sweet potatoes in Arkansas. The topics discussed are location of 

 field, selection of seed, varieties, propagation, the soil — its preparation and 

 fertilization, planting, cultivation, harvesting, storing, and marketing. Notes 

 are also given on the importance of the sweet potato industry of the State, and 

 on the cost of production and the returns that may be expected. 



The fire-holding capacity of tobacco leaves as a factor in tobacco breed- 

 ing, D. Hoffmann {Filhlinrfs Landio. Ztg., 6.'f {.1915), No. 13-14, PP- 366-311).— 

 This article discusses the importance of the fire-holding capacity of tobacco 

 leaves, and points out certain difficulties encountered in breeding for a high 

 quality in this respect. A report is also given of counts made to determine the 

 possible seed production of tobacco plants and of the length of time the leaves 

 of certain selected plants continued to glow in a burning test. 



The results of the seed counts indicated that an average plant may produce 

 202,300 seeds. In 1914 the duration of glow of 150 unfermented leaves ranged 

 from 10 seconds to the complete incineration of the leaf. Fire-holding capacity 

 appeared to be a heritable character. It is stated that the plants under test 

 were selected on the basis of color and structure of leaf, characteristic of 

 plants with a high potash content, and of early maturity. 



Alaska and Stoner, or " Miracle " wheats: Two varieties much misrepre- 

 sented, C. R. Ball and C. E. Leighty {V. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 357 {1916), pp. 28, 

 figs. 6). — The history of the two varieties of wheat is reviewed at some length, 

 and the results of comparative tests made by several experiment stations and 

 this Department are presented in tabular form and discussed. 



In summarizing the experimental results it is pointed out tliat Alaska wheat 

 has failed to produce even fair yields when tried in many parts of the country, 

 47580°— 16 4 



