234 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



best results, and B 3412, li 33!)0, B 1500, B 208, B 1529, and B 370 gave returns 

 far in excess of those of White Transparent. Talvin^ plants and rattoons 

 together, B 370, D 95, and B 208 gave increased values per acre of .$10.84, 

 $10.59, and $8.13, respectively, as compared with the standard variety. 



As in previous years the feililizer experiments showed that large and profit- 

 able increases are obtained by the addition of commercial fertilizers supplying 

 nitrogen to the ordinary application of barnyard manure, and that ordinary 

 applications of barnyard manure together with commercial fertilizers gave 

 better results than large quantities of barnyard manure without commercial 

 fertilizers. The use of phosphatic and potassic manures resulted in considerable 

 variation of yield, but in some instances notable increases were obtained. 



In 1905, 4,874 seedling canes were planted and of these 118 varieties were 

 selected for replanting at the close of 1907. At the end of 1906, 219 seedlings 

 were obtained, which are now under observation. Five canes produced by 

 artificial hybridization are under experimental cultivation. 



Experiments in growing tobacco under shade on the east coast of Sumatra, 

 F. W. T. Hunger (Mcded. Dcpt. Landh. [Jara], 1901, Xo. 3, pp. 112, pis. 5).— 

 The shade culture of tobacco in the United States is reviewed, statistics on the 

 importation of Sumatra tobacco into the United States are given, and the results 

 of shade culture experiments in Deli in 1903 are reported. In these experi- 

 ments it was observed that the leaves of all the different types were much 

 lighter in weight when grown under shade than when grown in the open, that 

 shade culture increased the proportion of the higher grade of leaf and also 

 produced a tobacco much lighter in color than that obtained in the check test, 

 and that the length of the leaves produced in the open was more satisfactory 

 than that of the shade-grown leaves. 



When the leaves of the tobacco in the check experiments were taken from 

 the plants at noon no light colored tobacco was produced. Harvesting the 

 shade-grown leaves at noon resulted in the same color of the tobacco as harvest- 

 ing the open-grown leaves in the morning. These results are considered a^ 

 affirming the conclusion of Mohr, that under ordinary conditions taking the 

 leaves from the plants in the morning gives a larger percentage of high-grade 

 material than harvesting at noon. 



The meteorological observations made in connection with this work are dis- 

 cussed, and the data relating to sunshine, air and soil temperatures, rainfall, 

 and relative humidity are recorded in tables. The average air temperature dur- 

 ing the day under the tents was higher and the maximum temperature was 

 lower than in the open. The minimum temperature recorded nights was higher 

 under the tent and the temperature of the covered soil was at all times lower 

 than on the check plats. The relative humidity of the air under the tents was 

 higher than in the open, but the rainfall reaching the covered soil was much 

 less than the rainfall on the unprotected plats. 



The prophylaxis of shade growing against mosaic disease of tobacco is dis- 

 cussed, and it is believed that shade growing reduces the pi'evalence of this 

 malady. 



In a general discussion of the results, the author points out that shade grow- 

 ing increases the cost of production 100 per cent under the conditions under 

 which these experiments were made. 



The art of seed selection and breeding, A. D. Shamel (U. 8. Dept. Agr. 

 Yearbook 1907, pp. 221-236, pis. 5). — This article treats of the art of seed selec- 

 tion and breeding as the practical application of methods of breeding to the 

 production of improved varieties of plants for commercial agricultural pur- 

 poses, and the science of breeding as meaning the work of the investigator in 

 determining by means of experiments the principles relating to the different 



