FIELD CROPS. 233 



Annual sugar beets, M. Deutsch (.1/// 6. Cong. Internas. Chim. A[)itl., 3 

 {1906), pti- 591-601). — A paper and disenssiou are presented ou the subject of 

 seed production in sugar beets during the first year of their growth. 



After reviewing experiments along this line, together wTth his own experi- 

 ences, the author concludes that the beet is a biennial when conditions do not 

 prevent it. It becomes an annual after a cessation, of growth caused b.v cold 

 weather, a prolonged drought, or other unfavorable conditions which may 

 escape our observations. Vigorous plants not only resist this tendency of pro- 

 ducing seed the first year better than weaker individuals, but they also are 

 less likely to be attacked by the different beet diseases. The author attributes 

 the phenomenon in a general way to the individuality of the beet, stating that 

 the vigorous plants are resistant while feeble plants are not, and that seed 

 production during the first year is regarded as lack of vigor in the individual. 



Growing sugar-beet seed in South Dakota, J. H. Shepard {South Dakota 

 Sta. Bah 106, pp. 320-31/9, figs. 8). — Experiments in growing sugar-beet seed in 

 cooperation with this Department are reported. Cultural and climatic notes 

 are given, the selection of mother beets is described, and the station work with 

 sugar beets in previous years is briefly reviewed. 



Owing to a late spring the beets were planted from May 11 to 17, cultivation 

 was given from June 1 to August 13, and thinning was done from July 2 to S. 

 The first killing frost on September 27 did little damage to the best varieties, 

 but some of the tenderer sorts and some of the stock beets showed the effect of 

 frost very plainly. The beets were harvested October 14 to 23. 



No sugar beet with les& than 14 per cent of sugar was saved. The data given 

 in tables show that the best strain was Kleinwanzleben Pioneer, which ranged 

 in sugar content in the beet from 14.2 to 24.8 per cent, with an average of 17.9 

 per cent. Of the 30 beets analyzed of this variety 13 contained over 18 per 

 cent. 



Seedling canes and manurial experiments at Barbados 1905—1907, J. P. 

 d'Albuquerque and J. R. Bovell {Imp. Dept. Agr. West. Indies Pamphlet 1/9, 

 pp. 119). — The manurial experiments were carried on at Dodds botanic station 

 and at five sugar estates situated in typical parts of the island. Five of the 

 stations were ou black soils and one on red. The weather conditions were not 

 very favorable and in many instances the average weight of canes per acre was 

 small, especially among the rattoon canes. The root disease was also prevalent 

 and was probably the cause of many of the low yields of canes among the 

 rattoons. 



This season ou the estates selected variety B 3696 gave the best results on 

 the black soils, with a yield of 2,045 lbs. of sucrose per acre in excess of that 

 given by White Transparent, the standard variety, while B 208 stood next with 

 an increase of 1,494 lbs. These yields represent increased values of $29.61 and 

 $21.63 per acre, respectively. B 147 came third and showed an increased value 

 of $13.34 per acre. On the red soils as plants and rattoons B 1566 again gave 

 the best results, producing 8,394 lbs. of sucrose per acre as plants and 6,645 lbs. 

 as rattoons against 6,006 lbs. per acre from White Transparent as plants and 

 5,736 lbs. as rattoons, representing a total gain of $47.73. B 3635, D 95, B 1753, 

 B 376, and B 1529 gave good results on black soils, and D 95, B 376, and B 208 

 on red soils. 



The average results of the best varieties for the last 4 years show that on 

 black soils B 3696, B 1753, B 1529, and B 147 gave the best returns as plants, 

 the increases per acre being valued at $34.52, $31.71, $16.18, and $11.64, respect- 

 ively, as compared with White Transparent. Taking plants and rattoons to- 

 gether, B 208 pi'oduced on an average 5,542 lbs. of sucrose per acre as against 

 5,197 lbs. by White Transparent. On red soils as plant canes B 3405 gave the 



