FIELD CROPS. 671 



4,994 ft.; and at Pomona, Cal., the average length of day is 14 liours 58 minutes, 

 latitude 34° 3', and the altitude 861 ft. 



The results in 1902 are considered as confirming in a general way those of the 2 

 previous years. In their relation to the distribution of rainfall they indicate, accord- 

 ing to the author, that the composition of the beet is largely independent of this 

 factor, provided there is sufficient moisture to supplj* the growing crop. 



At Madison, Wis., where the largest yield was ol)tained, the i)hosphoric acid con- 

 tent of the soil was higher than at any other station excepting Lexington, Ky., and 

 Ithaca, N. Y. The quantitj' soluble in dilute acid, however, was largest at Madison. 

 The potash content was higher only at Ithaca and Geneva, and the nitrogen content 

 lower only at the Michigan Station. At Lexington, where the lowest yield was pro- 

 duced, the soil contained the higest percentage of phosphoric acid and nitrogen and 

 the lowest of potash. The influence of a deficiency in 2 essential elements is shown 

 by the results at the Michigan Station, where phosphoric acid and nitrogen were 

 very low and the yields ranked next to tiie lowest. Potash and nitrogen were abun- 

 dant in the soil at the Washington Station, while phosphoric acid w^as low, but this 

 element was in a readily assimilable form and a yield of 26 tons per acre was ol)tained. 



Judging the results with reference to the chemical composition of the soil, the pre- 

 vious conclusion that the soil is the least important factor in the environment of the 

 sugar beet in respect to sugar content is again confirmed. It is stated that if well 

 prepared both clay and sandy soil produce good beets, and that for this reason the 

 beet is not well suited to determine the influence of mechanical composition of the 

 soil on the yield. "A fundamental condition for the growth of beets is the prepara- 

 tion of the seed bed to a depth of at least 16 in." 



The results on the alkali soil at Chino, Cal., show that beets of high quality can be 

 produced upon soil containing at least 5,480 lbs. of alkali per acre-foot. Here as well 

 as at Pomona the sugar content of the beets was materially reduced after October 1. 



The average percentage of sugar in the beets was 2.4 per cent higher on the irri- 

 gated areas than at the other stations. Attention is called to the more equable tem- 

 perature at the irrigated stations as compared with the nonirrigated areas, and this 

 condition is considered favorable to securing a high content of sugar. 



Method of harvesting sugar beets, Rieger {Abs. in Chem. Ztg., 27 {1903), No. 93, 

 Rf'pert. 21, p. 302). — The author reconnnends piling the beets into heaps about 3 ft. 

 in diameter with all the leaves exposed. As the foliage withers the juices and the 

 sugar are drawn back into the beet. This treatment practically prevents a loss in 

 weight and gives an increase of about 1 per cent in sugar content. The beets are 

 topped in the field and the tops and leaves are plowed under. 



Seedling and other canes at Barbados in 1903, D. Morris {Imp. Dept. Agr. 

 West Jiidits, Pamphlet 26, 1903, pp. 69) . — A short account of the most important results 

 of c-ooperative experiments with selected seedling and other canes is given. Part of 

 the data obtained are presented in tables. The weather conditions of the season are 

 discussed, and the rainfall of the different farms carrying on the work is recorded. 

 It is stated that the results in general confirm those of previous years (E. S. R., 14, 

 p. 653). 



Experiments on wheat, R. H. Biffen {Nature [London], 69 [1903), No. 1778, 

 pp. 92, 93). —This article di.scusses the increase in the yield of wheat and the decrease 

 in gluten content, and describes results obtained in wheat breeding which conform 

 to ^lendel's law. The effects of crossing on different botanical characters of the 

 wheat plant as shown in certain experiments is pointed out, and examples in breed- 

 ing early-maturing and rust-resistant varieties are cited. 



Triticum pollontcum, ripening early in August when sown about the middle of 



March, crossed with Rivet wheat, ripening late in August when fall sown, resulted in 



hybrid grains which when sown March 15 produced plants maturing seed al)out the 



middle of September, oi sunuitaneously with Rivet wheat sown at the same time. 



21250— No. 7—04 4 



