FIELD CROPS. 35 



soil was beneticial by increasing the nitrogen content of the plant, decreasing 

 the percentage of ash constitntents, increasing the percentage of fertilizer ingre- 

 dients in the roots, increasing the protein content of the beans, and decreasing 

 their oil content. The yield in price per acre of fertilizer ingredients on treated 

 and untreated soils, as calculated on the basis of 15 cts. per pound for nitro- 

 gen and 4 cts. per pound for phosphoric acid and potash, shows the A'alue 

 of the phosphoric acid and potash in the beans from the treated and untreated 

 soil to be about the same, but the value of the increase in nitrogen amounted 

 to $2.34 ijer acre. These results indicate that soil inoculation not only increases 

 the yield of leguminous crops, but also improves the feeding value since the 

 increased percentage of nitrogen is nearly all in the form of true proteids. 



[Fertilizer experiments with sugar beets during the season of 1906], 

 F. W. WOLL and C. W. Stoddart {Wiscon.sln kSta. Rpt. n)07, pp. 32l~3.iG, flijs. 

 3). — A condensation of Bulletin 150 of the station previously noted (E. S. R., 

 1!), p. 141). 



[Fertilizer experiments with sugar beets during the season of 1907], 

 F. W. WoLL and E. A. Moore {Wisconsin 8ta. Rpt. 1907, pp. 336-3^2). — The fer- 

 tilizer requireuieuts for sugar beets of the clay loam soil on the agronomy field 

 at the station near Madison, and of the light sandy soil on the substation farm 

 at Iron IJiver, were studied. The Braune Elite sugar beet was grown, an<l 

 different combinations of the following quantities of fertilizers were applied 

 on tenth-acre jilats: Sodium nitrate 20 lbs., potassium sulphate 20 lbs., acid 

 phosphate 40 lbs. 



On the agronomy field the beets were planted June 13 and the tirst samples 

 taken October IS showed 12.G2 per cent of sugar and an average purity of SG 

 per cent. The beets were harvested November 11, and when analyzed November 

 15 an increase in the percentage of sugar from the different plats amounted to 

 4.16 per cent and an increase in the average purity of 3.1 per cent was observed. 

 The average yield obtained during 11 seasons at the station was ITJ tons of 

 beets and 4..500 lbs. of sugar per acre, but this year the jield on any plat did 

 not much outyield 9 tons of beets and 2,800 lbs. of sugar per acre. As the season 

 was unfavorable no comments or deductions as to the relative influence of vari- 

 ous fertilizers seemed warranted. The most pronounced results in the increase 

 of beets and sugar were obtained with phosphoric acid alone or in combination 

 with potash. 



At Iron River the average sugar content in the beets was 10.38 per cent and 

 the purity 87.3 per cent. Nitrogen had a more marked intluence in imiiroving 

 the yield of beets than any other single fertilizer ingredient, potash ranking 

 next. The quality of the beets was generally improved by the application of 

 phosphoric acid and of nitrogen, while potash had a decidedly depressing intlu- 

 ence on the sugar content and the purity. The results in general indicate that 

 in a dry season at least the best fertilizer treatment for sugar beets on the 

 sandy soils of northern Wisconsin consists in the use of nitrogen alone or of 

 nitrogen with potassium or phosphorus. 



Sweet potatoes, W. R. Beattie (U. <S'. Dcpf. Af/r.. Farmers' Bui. 32-'/. pp. 3!l, 

 figs. 2'i). — This bulletin discusses the areas adapted to sweet potato culture, the 

 climatic and soil conditions required, and the latest methods of growing the 

 crop. In addition to giving general cultural directions, the storage, marketing, 

 cost of production, returns, and uses of the plant are considered. The following 

 varieties are described: Big-Stem Jersey, Yellow .Jersey, Red Jersey, Southern 

 Queen or Hayman, Pumpkin Yam, Georgia or Split-l.eaf Yam, Red Bermuda, 

 Florida, IMerson, Black Spanish, and Shanghai. 



Tobacco investigations for 1907, J. (i. Moore and A. J. Rogers ( Wisconsin 

 ISta. Rpt. I'.xn. pp. 3(i.)-308). — Nearly 300 lbs. of seed grown under the direction 



