640 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



Report on field trials on varieties of swedes (Midland Agr. and Dairy Col. 

 Bui. 7, J9()7-S, PI). 61-18). — In general the bronze-top varieties outyielded the 

 purple-top sorts. Ne Plus Utra, which ranked first in yield and dry matter, pro- 

 duced 19 tons 17 cwt. of roots and 3,G33 lbs. of dry matter per acre. It is re- 

 garded as the best swede for the ^Midlands. 



Report on field trials on manuring' of swedes {Midland Agr. and Dairy Col. 

 Bui. J/, 1901-8, pp. 21-.'tO). — The results here reported show that a dressing of 

 191 lbs. of nitrate of soda, 520 lbs. of superphosphate, and 60 lbs. of sulphate of 

 potash per acre was the most profitable application. A small dressing of barn- 

 yard manure and commercial fertilizers gave a larger crop than the use of 

 manure alone either in small or in large dressings. Basic slag and superphos- 

 phate proved to be the best sources of phosphate for swedes, and dissolved bone 

 and bone meal the least satisfactory. It was found that if part of the nitrogen 

 is applied after thinning it is best to supply that given at seeding in the form of 

 sulphate of ammonia, and that if all the nitrogen is given as nitrate of soda it 

 is advisable to apply it all at the time of sowing. 



Propagation of tobacco in Cuba, C. F. Baker (Estac. Cent. Agron. Cuba 

 Bui. 10, English cd., pp. 22, figs. 8). — This bulletin is a popular treatise on tobacco 

 culture under Cuban conditions. The subjects discussed are seed selection, 

 ^arieties, seed beds and their preparation, planting, and transplanting. 



Tobacco (Bur. of the Census [U. 8.], Manfrs. 1905, pt. 3, pp. 553-579) .—In 

 this report the manufacture of tobacco is divided into two principal groups, 

 cigars and cigarettes, and chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff. A summary 

 of the statistics of the combined industry from 1S60 to 1905, with percentages 

 of increase, shows that in 1905 the number of establishments was 16,828, the 

 capital invested $323,983,501, the cost of materials used $126,088,608, and the 

 value of products $331,117,681. Tabulated statistics are given by States, Terri- 

 tories, and geographic divisions. 



The perennial sow thistle and some other weed pests of 1908, J. E. Howitt 

 (Ontario Dept. Agr. Bui. 168, pp. 24, figs. 26). — This bulletin presents informa- 

 tion regarding the perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvcnsis), bladder campion 

 (Silene inflata), stinkweed (Thlaspi arvcnse), Russian thistle (Salsola kali 

 tragus), field pepper grass (Lepidium camijestre), dodder (Cuscuta epithyniurn) , 

 and the orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacuni), with a view to aiding in 

 checking or exterminating these various weeds which are spreading rapidly over 

 Ontario. Special attention is given to the perennial sow thistle and five dif- 

 ferent methods for combating it are outlined. 



HORTICULTURE. 



Forcing' plants by warm baths, H. Molisch (Umschau, 12 (1908), No. 39, 

 pp. 771-113, figs. J,; abs. in Sei. Amer. Sup., 66 (1908), No. Ill/,, p. 2yS).— The 

 author investigated a method used by certain practical gardeners in forcing 

 plants by means of warm water. The method consists in soaking cut branches 

 or rooted plants of various trees and shrubs in warm water for from 9 to 12 

 hours, and then growing them in the usual manner. 



In November, 1907, 3 freshly cut branches of Forsythia were immersed for 12 

 hours in water, the temperature of which varied between 77 and 90° F. These 

 were then placed in a hothouse with their cut ends in water, together with 

 3 branches which had not been immersed. In 12 days' time the bathed branches 

 were in full bloom while all the buds on the other branches still remained 

 closed. A rooted lilac bush immersed for 12 hours in hot water at a tempera- 

 ture of 88 to 98° F. was afterwards placed in a moderately warm forcing 

 house with a temperature of 59 to 61° F. Forty days after the bushes were 



