FIELD CEOPS. 859 



the largesl beets and the smallest amount of sugar. Improved Lmperial, Ruben- 

 s.-iiih'ii. and Mangel sugar beel proved equal in both sugar and purity to the 

 Kleinwanzleben variety. 



The results of experiments favor planting in rows is or 20 in. apart. The 

 use of a small amount of nitrate of soda and fairly large amounts of sulphate 

 of potash and superphosphate cause the beets to starl quickly, and thus allowed 

 thinning aboul 3 days sooner than where no fertiliser was applied. The fer- 

 tilized plats gave ;i larger yield of beets and showed .in increase of from one- 

 half In I per cent in tin- sugar content. 



Promoting the initial growth of the sugar beet, A. CsebhAti {Osterr. 

 Ungar. Ztschr. Zuckerindus. u. Landw., 36 (1905), Vo. /. pp. 35 \5 ; abs. in 

 Oentbl. Igr. Chan., .1) (1905), Vo. ?, pp. 530 532). The results secured by the 

 author Indicated that the growth of young sugar-beet plants is promoted by the 

 use of the variety best adapted to the particular soil conditions, by the applica- 

 tion in the drill of appropriate quantities of readily assimilable plant food in 

 the form of commercial fertilizers, and by methods of soil preparation which 

 enable the seed to be placed at uniform depths. 



The von Kuffner method of seeding, as outlined, consists in rolling the land 

 before planting, and attaching a small roller 12 cm. in width and weighing K) 

 kg. to the seed drill. This method assures a uniform soil condition as well as a 

 uniform depth of planting. 



Sugar and the sugar cane, X. Deerb (Altrincham < Manchester), Eng.: Vor- 

 )n<ni Rodger, 1905, i>/>. VIII+S95+XIX, pis. 11, /ins. tl9, dgm. t). This Look 

 is an elementary treatise presenting a general view of the cane-sugar industry. 

 All the different phases of the product ion of the crop, as well .-is the details of 

 cane-sugar manufacture and the managenemt of the sugar factory, are dis- 

 cussed. Directions for the analysis of sugar-house products are also given. 

 A bibliography containing 41 references is presented. 



Progress report on the work of the Samalkot experimental sugar farm 

 during 1903-1904, C. A. Barbeb (Dept. Land Rec. mid Agr. Madras, Agr. 

 Branch /»'/>/.. \<>i. m. Vo. ■>/. j>/>. n. pis. 5).— The culture of sugar cane in the 

 GOdavari delta is described and the results of experiments at the station dis 

 cussed. 



Among the different varieties of cane tested Red Mauritius gave the best 

 results, the larger yield of cane being due not to a great tillering power hut to 

 the weighl of individual canes. Vausi tillered most and had aboul 3 time- the 

 Dumber of canes shown by Red Mauritius. This season the Red Mauritius 

 produced a fine even stand when the whole plaid was cut up for seed. Some 

 varieties, as the Seema. can only he grown from tops, and an experiment with 

 the Verra cane gave almost twice as many shoots from cuttings taken from the 

 upper ends as from the same number of cuttings taken from the lower ends of 

 the cane. 



Results of experiments with varieties of canes, J. B. Habbison (George- 

 town, Demerara; Bd. Agr., 1905, i>i>. 9). Variety tests with sugar cane were 



mad i a large number of plantations, and the results secured indicated that 



the varieties raised and selected locally were, in general, good ratooning canes 

 and of greater merit than the imported Barbados varieties Sealy and B. ill. 

 The estimates of the milling qualities of the different varieties were not con- 

 cordant Selections i>. <;•_>:>. i >. i i r> . and-D. 109 showed well-marked ratooning 



Qualities and are recom nded to cane farmers for trial. On one estate 



seedling varieties gave a yield of 7 per cent and on another of 30.7 per cent 

 greater than Bourbon. I >. 71. D. 78, and White Transparent showed signs of 

 falling oil* in their yields and are no longer recommended for cultivation. 



