FIELD DROPS. 549 



Sodium in the form of the carbonate had do injurious effect when 3.4 gm. of sodium 

 oxid were supplied lor r\ ery L9 gm. of soil. The plants containing the highest quan- 

 tity of sodium at the period of most active growth gave the besl yields, and the 

 i ii j uric ,u> effecl of sodium chlorid independent of a general action of the sail is, there- 

 fore, considered due to the chlorin. When sodium salts were supplied the variety 

 Daber took up more sodium, while in the other variety, Leo, no increase in this 

 element i<><>k place. The application of ^> •< I i 1 1 1 1 1 salts increased the quantity of potash 

 used by the plants. During the most active growth the sodium in equally distributed 

 throughout the plant, while at the close of the growing period it gathers in the parte 

 above ground. 



The difference between varieties in the degree of injury resulting from the impuri- 

 ties in the potash salts is ascribed to the difference in the nutritive effect upon the 

 vai ieties of the potash furnished. The excess of chlorin in tin- leaves during growth, 

 which resulted from the use of sodium chlorid, is partly transported to the tubers at 

 the close of the vegetative period. The older variety, Daber, which sustained the 

 greatest injury, retained more chlorin in its leaves than the newer variety, hen. 



The quantity of potash translocated in the leases was also greater in the hen than 

 in the Daber variety, in either variety the application of sodium chlorid did nol 

 perceptibly impede the movement of potash from the leaves. Daber was better able 

 to use the soil potash than Leo. 



Influence of environment on the composition of the sug-ar beet, 1904, 

 together with a summary of the five-year investigation, II. \V. Wilei (U. S. 

 Dept. Agr. } Bur. Chem. Bui. 96, pp. 66, pi. 1, charts 10). — In 1904 the work was con- 

 tinued along the same lines as previously reported upon i F. B. R.., 17, p. 457 



The seed used this season, grown at Fairfield, Wash., from Kleinwanzlebener 

 mother beets exceptionally high in quality, germinated L69.5 sprouts perlOOseed 

 halls. The best beets in so far as size is concerned were produced at Madison, Wis., 

 and Geneva, X. V.. the topped beets weighing about a pound. Typical yields vary- 

 ing from L9.9 to 14.9 tons per acre were secured at Madison, Wis.. Geneva, N. Y., 

 and Agricultural College, Mich. 



The beets produced in Michigan and Indiana contained about 15 per cent of sugar; 

 those grown at Geneva, N. Y., and Blacksburg, Va., L3 percent; at Ithaca. N. V., and 

 Madison. Wis.. 12 per cent; and at Lexington, Ky., and Washington, l>. ('., 11 per 

 cent. The beets from Madison, Geneva, Blacksburg, Lexington, and Agricultural 

 College had a purity of over 81, while those from Washington. Lexington, and Ithaca 

 ranged from 7i' to 76 in this regard. 



The stations having the highesl temperature include Washington, I >. ( !., Lexington, 

 I\y.,and Lafayette. Ind. The rainfall was greatest at Madison and smallest at Lex- 

 ington, amounting to 22 and L3 in., respectively. The largest number ofcleardays 

 occurred at Lexington and the smallest at Blacksburg. The percentage of sunshine 

 was not obtained from all the stations, but the data reported gave Lexington the 

 highest and Agricultural t lollege the lowest. 



The results obtained at 2 irrigated stations. Pomona, Cal., and Fort Collins, Colo., 

 show a great superiority of the product at the ( lolorado Station, which is attributed 

 largely to the low temperature at that point. The mean temperature Eorthegrow- 

 ing season at Pomona was 8.6° higher than at Fort Collins. The precipitation at 

 Fort Collins was almost as great as at Lexington. Pomona had nearly 3 timi 

 many clear days as Fort Collins and L2.5 per cent more sunshine. 



It is regarded as evident that the influence of latitude has 2 components, length of 

 day and degree of temperature. Results obtained at Blacksburg indicated that the 

 degree of temperature is by far the more important In general the results show 

 little relation between the hours of sunshine and the BUgar content, and in this 

 respect are entirely in harmony with those of previous years. The figures repre- 

 senting the content of sugar coincided, in general, with the purity of the juice and 



