36 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



A report <>f progress on an experiment to test the exhaustion of the soil by beets 

 is presented. The tabulated results show a significant reduction in the yields of 

 oats, Ix'ets, and corn on plats which had produced l)eets 2 and 3 years in succession 

 followed l)y 1 year of oats. Cooperative work with this Department in the pro- 

 duction of beet seed is also in progress. 



Sugar beets in the Tipper Peninsula, C. I). Smith and L. ^I. Geismak {Michi- 

 gan Shi. Sjirc. Bid. IS, pp. S). — This bulletin reports the results of culture testa with 

 sugar beets in the Upper Peninsula of Micliigan. This is the first season's work and 

 no conclusions are drawn. 



Attention is called to the fact that from April 15 to October 15 the sun is above the 

 hori/on for 69.13 hours longer at 47° north latitude than at 42°, and this is considered 

 a dominant influence on the sugar content of beets grown at the higher latitude. 

 The beets in the samples sent to the college for analysis dried out considerably and 

 hence the results are inaccurate. An experiment was made l)y the station chemist 

 to determine the loss of weight in beets subjected to conditions similar to those of 

 the samples sent to the college, which were in transit for 3 days. The loss of weight 

 varied from 15.8 to 21.6 per cent, the sugar content in the juice before drying from 

 14.68 to 16.6 per cent, and after drying from 18.6 to 20.9 per cent. 



Sugar-beet experiments, R. H.\rcourt {Ontario Agr. Col. and Expt. Farm Rpt. 

 1902, pp. 42-47). — A report is given on testing sugar beets grown for feeding and for 

 factory purposes. The beets grown for feed, judged by their sugar content,. were all 

 excellent for the purpose. They were cultivated in general as other root crops grown 

 for forage. 



The results of cooperative tests of sugar beets to demonstrate the possibilitj^ of 

 producing beets for the manufacture of sugar are presented. The average results 

 obtained in 6 districts in 1902 by 189 experimenters show 16 per cent of sugar in the 

 juice with a purity of 88.1; in 1901, the average of 15 districts with 335 experimenters 

 was 16.4 per cent of sugar in the juice with a purity of 87.5; and in 1900 the average 

 of 3 districts with 116 experimenters amounted to 14.4 per cent of sugar in the juice 

 with a purity of 85.4. In connection with this work several fertilizer experiments 

 were conducted. The use of Thomas slag apparently increased the average weight 

 of the beets and decreased the percentage of solids not sugar in the juice, thereby 

 increasing the yield and the purity. The results of a comparison of superphosphate, 

 nitrate of potash, and nitrate of soda gave no other indication than that phosphatic 

 fertilizers imjirove the purity of the juice. The culture of sugar beets in Ontario is 

 discussed and the condition of the beet-sugar industry described. 



Culture of sweet potatoes in the Azores, Berxegac {Tropjenpfanzrr, 6 {1902), 

 No. 0, pp. 2S5-29-'i, jigx. 9). — A detailed account of methods of sweet-potato culture 

 in the Azores. 



Irrigation of Sumatra tobacco, C. J. Blanchard {Forestry and Irrig., 9 {1903), 

 Kg. 6, 2jp. 292-29-'>, figs. 2). — A brief description is given of the methods of culture 

 and irrigation practiced with Sumatra tobacco grown under sliade^n Florida. The 

 method of iri-igation considered most satisfactory is spraying by means of overhead 

 pipes and nozzles. 



HORTICULTURE. 



Tomato culture, F. A. Huntley {Idaho Sta. Bid. 34, pp. 108-117, ]>I. l,fig. 1). — 

 Directions are given for the culture of tomatoes in Idaho. Methods of treating the 

 plants in the hotbed and cold frame, as well as transplanting to the field and field 

 management, are discussed. One of the new features brought out in experiments at 

 the station is the use of coal ashes in cold frames where tomato plants are grown. 

 After the colil frame is made the bed is given a slight elevation with earth and then 

 covered over with 2 in. of sifted coal ashes. The coal ashes are watered thoroughly, 

 and on top of these is placed about 3 in. of deep, rich, mellow soil c omposed of 



