FIELD CROPS. 439 



pp. 330-335; 22, pp. 345-350; 23, pp. 361-36U) .—This article gives the results 

 of a pot experiment in wliicli phosphoric acid was used in various quantities, 

 classed as insufficient, possibly sufficient, normal, and surplus, and combined 

 in each case with 3 different amounts of nitrogen, designated as normal, heavy, 

 and very heavy applications. Sugar beets were grown under these manurial 

 applications in both moist and very moist soil conditions. 



The largest average yield of beets was obtained with the normal application of 

 phosphoric acid combined with the very heavy use of nitrogen. The analytical 

 data show the roots to contain the highest amount of phosphoric acid where the 

 largest amounts of both phosphoric acid and nitrogen were applied, and the 

 largest amount of nitrogen when grown with the lowest application of phos- 

 phoric acid plus the largest application of nitrogen. The moisture content of ' 

 the soil showed little influence on these figures. The sugar content of the 

 beets was highest with the lowest amount of nitrogen combined with the 3 

 largest amounts of phosphoric acid, being 18.29, 18.28, and 18.3 per cent, re- 

 spectively. Additional soil moisture seemed to cause a decrease in sugar 

 content. 



The percentage of pulp decreased with the increased applications of phos- 

 phoric acid up to the normal application, then increased, while in the very 

 moist soil fluctuating results were obtained. With a small amount of nitrogen 

 the ash and nitrogen-free pectin increased with the increase of phosphoric 

 acid, while with the larger amounts of nitrogen the pectin content was greatest 

 where the extremes of phosphoric acid application were made. Increased soil 

 moisture had little influence on these results. Phosphoric acid seemed to have 

 little influence on the content of invert sugar under any of the given conditions. 



The most favorable manurial condition for top development seemed to be 

 with the normal applications of nitrogen combined with the higher amounts of 

 phosphoric acid. Increasing the quantity of nitrogen induced an abnormal 

 growth of top. 



Sugar-beet culture {Sucr. Indig. et Colon., 81 {1913), No. 19, pp. U1-U6).— 

 Variety tests in 1912 yielded from 14,800 to 22.500 kg. per hectare (6.6 to 10 

 tons per acre) of roots, with a percentage of sugar ranging from 13.65 to 16.27 

 per cent. A classification was made according to the attitude of the foliage of 

 the growing beets, i. e., erect, spreading, and intermediate, and 3 sizes of roots, 

 large, small, and medium in each class, were analj-zed, but no definite relation 

 was discovered between density, purity or sugar content, and size or foliage. 



Correlation between the size of seed ball and the germinative ability of 

 beet seeds, H. Plahn-Appiani {Bl. Zuckerruhenlyau, 20 {1913), No. 2, pp. 20-24, 

 fig. 1). — The results given in this article show the germinatlve ability of beet 

 seeds to decrease as the weight of the seed ball increases, and to increase with 

 the size of the seed ball when bas»d on count. 



Some figures relative to beet seeds {Sta. Agron. Aisne Bui., 1912, pp. 

 44-47). — Data are given showing the number of seed per kilogram of balls, the 

 weight of 100 balls, and the 4 sizes into which the seeds may be divided. The 

 large seeds gave the better results in producing strong vigorous plants. 



Sugar-cane experiments in the Leeward Islands, F. Watts et al. {Imp. 

 Dept. Agr. West Indies, Sugar-Cane Expts. Leeward I si, 1911-12, pts. 1-2, 

 pp. 111).— This is a detailed report of the results of variety tests with plant 

 and rattoon canes and manurial experiments with cane, in continuation of work 

 already noted (E. S. R., 26, p. 837). 



The study of sugar-cane varieties with a view to their classification, G. N. 

 Sahasrabuddhe {West Indian Bui., 12 {1912), No. 1, pp. 378-387, pi. i).— This 

 paper reviews previous attempts toward botanical description and classifica- 

 33788*— No. 5—14 4 



