FIELD CROPS. 351 



Report on cultural tests in 1901-2, A. Damseaux [Bnl. Agr. \_Brussels], 19 

 {190S), }\u. 1, pp. 1-12). — Among a number of varieties of wheat Desprez Yellow 

 square head, Kirsche Improved square head, Teverson, and White Flemish proved 

 most resistant to an extremely wet season. In a fertilizer test with rye the plat 

 receiving 2 kg. of superphosphate gave a larger yield than the plats receiving 4 or 6 

 kg. Ligowo and Yellow Flemish oats were the most productive varieties. 



The attacks of rust on oats were less severe where the crop had been fertilized 

 with Thomas slag. The best quality of sugar beets was produced by Schlitte 

 ilornung Kleinwanzlebener, and Strube. Kirsche Improved Yellow mangel among 

 6 connnon varieties produced the largest yield and the largest quantity of dry mat- 

 ter per hectare. The roots of this variety ranked first in the percentage of nitrog- 

 enous substance. The quantity of leaves and crowns produced were smallest among 

 the varieties tested. 



A plat of chicory fertilized with sulphate of ammonia gave a nuich better yield of 

 dry matter than a plat fertilized with nitrate of soda. Topping tobacco apparently 

 increased the yield by 400 kg. per hectare and the nicotine content by 1.2 per cent. 

 Abutilon this season failed to ripen seed and produced only 680 kg. of fiber per hec- 

 tare as compared with 1,400 kg. the year before. 



A new variety of lupine having a red blossom produced 39,400 kg. of green forage 

 per hectare and seemed well adapted to moderately stiff calcareous soils. Soil inocu- 

 lation tests with lupines and vetch proved effective in pot cultures, but gave contra- 

 dictory results in the tield. 



The content of dry matter, sugar, and nitrogen compounds in fodder beets 

 at diflFerent stages of growth, J. A. Le Clerc {Inaug. Diss., Univ. Halle, 1903, pp. 

 56). — The work with field beets by different investigators is briefly reviewed, the 

 analytical methods employed by the author are described, and the results of analyses 

 made at regular intervals from June 6 to November 11 are tabulated and discussed. 

 It was found that the percentage of water in the beet bore a close relation to the 

 rainfall, rising with the increase in precipitation and falling with the decrease. The 

 highest percentage of sugar in the dry matter was reached September 9, during the 

 period of greatest light intensity. This period also showed the highest temperature 

 and the longest duration of sunshine. 



Beets grown at intervals of 30 cm. in rows 45 cm. apart were found to contain on 

 September 22 and October 20 1.43 and 2.27 per cent more water and 13.95 and 11.56 

 per cent less sugar in the dry matter, respectively, than beets grown in the same 

 way, but with the exception that 2 plants were allowed to grow in a hill instead of 

 one. The beets thinned to 1 plant in a place yielded 7,714 kg. of dry matter and 

 3,345 kg. of sugar, while the thicker-grown beets produced 10,240 kg. of dry matter 

 and 5,579 kg. of sugar per hectare. 



Analyses made November 11 showed that the upper third contained more water 

 and less sugar than the rest of the beet, while the lower third was richer in sugar 

 and poorer in water than the upper ]K)rtion. The middle third was about an average 

 between the two. This result is considered an argument for the culture of beets 

 developing mostly beneath the surface of the soil. 



During the period of rapid growth the leaves contained about 93 per cent of water, 

 hut analyses made October 30 showed that their water content had fallen to 90 per 

 cent. Sugar was not detected in the leaves by means of the polariscope. 



The crown of the beet is estimated to comprise from 15 to 25 per cent of the entire 

 plant and about 75 per cent of the i)ortion growing above ground. The water content 

 of the crowns remained about constant between the dates of October l.S and October 30. 

 This portion contained about 17 per cent of the total sugar content of the beet. In 

 completely-developed l)eets the author regards the crowns as containing one-sixth of 

 the dry matter and the sugar, 18 per cent of the total nitrogen, and 24 per cent of 

 the nitric acid. 



