FIELD CROPS. 39 



Pointers on the growing and selection of types of eating- potatoes, W. 

 SciiiFTAN {Illus. Landw. Zlg., 33 (1913), No. 14, pp. Ill, 112, figs. 7).— In this 

 article 7 types of eating potatoes are described and illustrated and their charac- 

 teristics discussed. A distinction is made between these types and those grown 

 for brewing or the manufacture of alcohol, starch, etc. 



Experiments in the defoliation of sugar beets, F. Stbohmeb, H. Bbiem, and 

 O. Fallada {Osterr. Ungar. Ztschr. Zuckerindus. u. Landw., 41 (1912), No. 2, 

 pp. 22S-240). — This reports a series of experiments in which the yield and 

 sugar content of beets from which the first 2 rows and the first 3 rows of leaves 

 were removed at 3 stages of development, August, September, and October, 

 were compared with those from normally developed plants. In each case the 

 decrease in both sugar content and total yield was in proportion to the quantity 

 of leaves removed. Tabulated analyses of the roots of the several series are 

 given. 



Small beet seed, H. Bbiem (Bl. Zuckerriibenbau, 19 (1912), No. 12, pp. 185- 

 187). — An article in which the author discusses the value of color, odor, and 

 size of the beet seed, and points to investigations showing that small seeds are 

 not inferior to large ones. 



The size of the seed ball of beets, H. Plahn-Appiani (Bl. Zuckcrruhenhau, 

 19 (1912), No. 17, pp. 265-267). — This is a discussion with citations showing 

 the equal value of large and small seed balls in beet production. 



The value of bees to seed beet growing, E. Vasilieff (Bl. Zuckerriibenbau, 

 19 (1912), No. 10, p. 155; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome}, Bui. Bur. Agr. 

 Intel, and Plant Diseases, S (1912), No. 8, p. i77.?).— This article describes the 

 important part bees play in the production of beet seeds. 



The manuring of sugar cane at Samalkota Agricultural Station, 1902— 

 1912, G. R. HiLSON (Dcpt. Agr. Madras Bui. 66, 1913, pp. 8).— This work shows 

 that on the Delta lands commercial fertilizers are not to be recommended, and 

 that with the price of castor-cake about 4 times that of margosa and puugam 

 cake, the latter is the more economical manure. The yields ranged from 2,767 

 to 7.167 lbs. raw sugar per acre. 



The culture of flue-cured tobacco, E. H. Mathewson (U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 

 16, pp. 36. figs. 12). — In this bulletin the author has outlined the Old Belt and 

 the New Belt sections for the cultivation of this class of tobacco, and has given 

 a historical sketch leading up to the present time methods of flue-curing 

 tobacco. In describing methods of cultivation, the importance of humus in the 

 soil is noted, and it is stated that the humus may be obtained by plowing under 

 timothy and redtop sod. Other crops mentioned in this connection are oats, 

 wheat, cotton, peanuts, sweet potatoes, corn, and cowpeas, the legumes of which 

 may be pastured off with hogs. Various methods of fertilizing, including the 

 use of barnyard manure and lime, are discussed, and formulas for both sections 

 are presented. Further discussions include varieties, selection and care of 

 plants, preparation and care of the seed bed, comparison of early and late 

 planting, transplanting, cultivation, diseases, insect enemies, topping and sucker- 

 ing, harvesting, and curing and handling. Descriptions are given of curing 

 barns and storage houses. 



The entire cost of producing and marketing flue-cured tobacco is estimated at 

 from 6 to 10 cts. per pound. 



The Utelo, a plant with oleaginous seeds, B. Mestdaqh (Bui. Agr. Congo 

 Beige, 3 (1912), No. S, pp. 645, 646, fig. 1; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], 

 Bui. Bur. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 3 (1912), No. 12, pp. 2640. 2641).— A 

 cucurbit native to the Belgian Congo, from the seed of which oil may be ex- 

 tracted, is described, as is also the aboriginal method of manufacture. 



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