1032 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Analyses nuule at the station show an averaj^e protein content of 35.40 per 

 cent and a fat content of 1!().35 per cent for soy-bean seed, as compared with 

 25.2.S i)er cent of protein and 1.72 per cent of fat for the co\vi)ea. 



A stand of cowpeas is more certain than a stand of soy beans because a soil 

 crust offers i»ut little resistance to the cowpea and the seed is also surer of 

 germination. For sowing broadcast tlie cowpea is therefore superior to the soy 

 bean, especially on land liliely to bake or poorly prepared. A variety test of 

 soy beans showed Butterball to he a good early variety, B. P. I. No. 1299 the 

 best variety in the test for August planting and for an extra early seed crop, 

 Ito San about tlie best early variety. B. P. I. No. 1194 about tlie best of the mid- 

 season varieties, and Mammotli Yellow about the best late variety. 



Variations in length of season required for full maturity, as observed in 1907, 

 were as follows : " Mammoth Yellow, ISO and 113 days, yielding 21.5 and 2U.G 

 bu. of seed, respectively ; Ito San, 129 and 81 days, yielding 11 and 16.5 bu. of 

 seed, respectively ; Medium Yellow, 104 and 86 days, yielding 18.3 and 20.2 bu. 

 of seed respectively." Varieties of cowpeas also sliowed marlied variations in 

 length of season, but the difference between the two plants is that late-sown 

 soy beans make only a small growth, while late-sown cowpeas grow with the 

 usual vigor until arrested by frost or other untoward conditions. 



Cultural directions with reference to the soy beau are given and varieties of 

 special merit are enumerated. The construction of curing racks for hay is 

 described and illustrated and the results with soy beans in cooperative experi- 

 ments in middle Tennessee are briefly reported. 



The plant food consumption of the beet during the first year of growth 

 and its relation to the sugar content, K. Andrlik and J I'kban {7Anchr. 

 ZuckcrinduH. Bdhmcn, 8S (11)09), No. //. pp. 2,2/-2-i0).— The results of experi- 

 ments showed that the plant food consumption varied with different varieties 

 or strains. The plants of one kind of seed took up more phosphoric acid and 

 potash than those grown from another kind, while in nitrogen consumption 

 there was no difference. Disregarding this difference and basing conclusions 

 on average results, the authors estimate the plant food consumption of a crop 

 of 400 quintals of beets per hectare (about 17.8 tons per acre) as 65.1 kg. 

 (about 143.2 lbs.) of phosphoric acid, 139.8 kg. (about 307.6 lbs.) of nitrogen, 

 and IGS.G kg. (about 370.9 lbs.) of potash. Attention is called to the fact that 

 aside from the difference in seed, conditions of soil and season have a marked 

 influence and that the deductions are based on the assumption that weather 

 conditions are favoralde. 



Experiments with varieties of sugar cane, F. Watts et al. (Imp. Dcpt. Agr. 

 West Indies, Sugar-Cane Expts. Leewnrd IsL, 1906-7, pt. 1, pp. 74). — Noted 

 from another source (E. S. R., 20, p. 639). 



Manurial experiments, F. Watts et al. {Imp. Dcpt. Agr. West Indies, Sugar- 

 Cane Expts. Leeicard IsL, 1906-1, pt. 2, pp. 37, dgms. 5). — Noted from another 

 source (E. S. R., 20, p. 6.39). 



Shelter-tent experiment with Sumatra-type tobacco, W. Frear (Pennsyl- 

 vania Sta. liul. S'J, PI). .>-l'i, fi(/s. 2\. — Sumatra leaf was grown under shelter 

 in 1905 at two locations on Penn sandy loam soil. Plants from commercial 

 seed showed great diversity of type, while those from self-fertilized seed grown 

 in Pennsylvania in 1904 showed a marked uniformity. Crops of cured leaf 

 weighing 1,200 and 1,700 lbs. i)er acre were secured at Milton drove and Coca- 

 lico, respectively. 



Sweating and assorting caused a loss of 21.7 per cent. " The tobacco was 

 bulked on February 16, 1906; the temperature rose from 70° F., at the begin- 

 ning, to 100° on February 25, and then fell to 96° on March 2. On March 3 

 the bulk was turned ; on the 4th the temperature was 84° ; on the 12th, 100° ; 



