1072 experimp:nt station kecord. 



an ai^plication of 520 lbs. of acid {>hoHi>hate, 65 lbs. of muriate pota.sh, and 195 

 pounds of cotton-seed meal, containinj^ 1 1..'!:5 per cent of phosphoric acid, 4.25 per 

 cent of j)otash, and 1.94 ])er cent of nitrofjren gave the best returns, the value of the 

 increase at 4 cents i)er pound of seed cotton being $22.13. On the second field this 

 application showed an increase in yield worth $24.9.3, while an application of 

 (528 lbs. of acid phosphate, 13 lbs. of muriate of potash, and 235 lbs. of cotton- 

 seed meal, containing 12.19 per cent of phosphoric acid, 0.75 per cent of potash, and 

 2.08 per cent of nitrogen was accompanied by an increase in yield worth $31.09. The 

 author concludes from these results that a fertilizer for cotton should contain the 3 

 elements in api)roximately definite proportions to each other. 



On fertilizi'd i)lats, cotton planted on beds gave a yield of 1,407 l))s. of seed cotton 

 per acre, as compared with 1,419 ll)s. from a i)lanting on the level. On 2 unfertilized 

 plats the yields were 1,111 lbs. and 1,038 lbs. for planting on beds and on the level, 

 respectively. 



Bedding on the fertilizer in the usual way gave better results than applying it 

 with the seed. The results of this test further showed that the 130 lbs. of cotton- 

 seed meal contained in the application of 604 lbs. of fertilizer per acre did not inter- 

 fere with the growth of the seed. 



The bulletin contains a review of the weather conditions for this and previous 

 seasons and suggestions on cotton culture with special reference to the use of fertil- 

 izers in that connection. 



Sea Island cotton in Porto Rico, R. M. Walker {Porto Rico Ski. Circ. 3, 

 j^p. 4). — This circular issued in both English and Spanish editions consists of brief 

 notes on preparing the soil for 8ea Island cotton and planting, cultivating, and har- 

 vesting the crop under Porto Rico conditions. 



The potato in England, F. W. Maiiin ( U. S. Bept. Com. and Labor, Mo. Consu- 

 lar Jij}ts., 75 {1904), No. 284, PP- 4S2-434)- — Information is given regarding the 

 Eldorado, Evergood, Sir John Llewellyn, and Northern Star varieties of potatoes, 

 the first named being a recently introduced variety. 



Metliods and benefits of growing sugar beets, C. F. Saylor ( U. S. Dept. 

 A(jr., Office oftlic Secretarij, Circ. 11, ji]>. 27). — This circular is a brief popular treatise 

 on the culture of the sugar beet. In addition to discussions of the different phases 

 of beet culture the production of beet seed is described and the results of experi- 

 ments with home-grown seed and with different fertilizer applications are reviewed. 

 Tables are given showing the sugar content of beets from home-grown seed as 

 determined at the Washington Experiment Station and the results of germination 

 tests of foreign and home-grown sugar-beet seed secured in the Seed Laboratory of 

 the Bureau of Plant Industry of this Department. 



Tests of different varieties of sugar beets, R. Harcoirt {Ontario Agr. Col. and 

 Exjit. Form Rpl. 190-1, pp. ^.7-.}0).— Sugar Ijeets were grown in 1903 on a clay-loam 

 soil in njws 21 in. apart and the plants thinned to 8 in. apart in the row. The yield 

 and feeiling value, judged from the sugar content of the various varieties, were deter- 

 mined and compared with the results of the 2 previous years. In general the larger 

 growing varieties were not equal in food value to the smaller ones. Kleinwanzle- 

 bener contained 17.4 per cent of the sugar in the juice with a purity of 88.3, and of 

 the 33 varieties tested one was equal and 7 even better than this standard variety. 

 The results of distance experiments show practically no difference in the quality of 

 beets grown in rows 18 or 20 in. apart at intervals of 8 in. in a row. The best dis- 

 tance between rows depends upon the cost of cultivation and the yield, but spacing 

 to 18 in. is usually recommended. 



The data from fertilizer tests show that barnyard manure has a tendency to force 

 growth late in the season. Sugar content and purity were lowest on this plat. 

 ]\Iuriate of jiotash aj^plied alone increased the yield more than any other single fer- 

 tilizer, the increase being almost as large as with barnyard manure. When sodium 



