1152 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



(1905), No. 1, pp. 23-29, pi. 1). — The results of pot experiments are reported which 

 " show that in the presence of lime as carbonate the necessary amount of magnesia, 

 when applied as crystallized sulphate for paddy rice in sand culture, is so small that 

 the best ratio CaO : MgO becomes 30:1, while in the form of natural carbonates the 

 best ratio would be 1:1 as Aso [E. S. R., 15, p. 1062] had ascertained. This conclu- 

 sion will hold good also for various sandy soils, while for clayey soils the best ratio 

 CaO as carbonate wiU differ „ 

 MgO as sulphate 



Additional experiments, making comparative tests of sodium nitrate and ammo- 

 nium sulphate, showed that the application of nitrogen as sodium nitrate was not 

 favorable to rice plants, its relative value as compared with ammoniacal nitrogen 

 being as 40 to 100. 



The anatomical structure of the stems of spring rye grown on moor soils 

 and its change under the influence of manurial treatment, P. Vageler (Jour. 

 Landw., 54 (1906), Xo. 1, pp. 1-30). — The thickness of the stem wall was found to 

 decrease from the base toward the top of the stem. All oarts of the stem not pro- 

 tected by the leaf sheaths showed an evenly developed cuticle, but the epithelium 

 was much strengthened in the upper parts of the stem and in the internodes. 



At the lower joints of the internodes the stomata under the leaf sheaths remained 

 inactive and there was practically no development of chlorophyll. The hypoderma 

 was found strongest in the lower parts of the stems and in the internodes. The 

 development of the parenchyma was greatest in the lower portions of the stem and 

 in the upper parts of the internodes. The tissue through which protein is trans- 

 located prevailed near the head. The proportion of lumina to cell walls in the stem 

 increased from below toward the spike, corresponding to the lesser strength require- 

 ments in the upper portions near the head. 



The results of experiments to determine the influence of the fertilizer applications 

 used showed that all manurial treatment, excepting the use of phosphoric acid by 

 itself, tended to increase the size of the stem by enlarging the cell lumina at the 

 expense of the cell walls. The parenchymatic tissue also increased with the quan- 

 tity of fertilizer applied. Potash, without weakening the stem, favored the produc- 

 tion of parenchyma and assimilative tissue and a reduction of unproductive tissue. 

 Its use also resulted in a marked strengthening of the cuticle. 



Nitrogen remained indifferent toward the length of the stem and the development 

 of the fibro-vascular bundles, but it reduced the quantity of hypoderma, especially 

 in the lower internodes. This result, coupled with a greater production of chloro- 

 phyll in the lower parts of the plant and a reduction in percentage of cell wall, 

 weakens the stem. When nitrogen and potash were applied together the effect of 

 weakening the cell wall was quite marked. Phosphoric acid given in excess pro- 

 duced exceptionally low yields. While acting favorably on the development of the 

 framework of the plant, phosphoric acid reduced the total quantity of cell wall, but- 

 when applied with potash and nitrogen it had a strengthening effect on the plant. 



Experiments with sugar beet, G. Clarke (Essex Ed. Com., County Tech. Labs., 

 Chelmsford, 1906, Jan., pp. 22, pi. 1, figs. 3). — Experiments were conducted at 5 

 different points. The average yield of sugar beets per acre was 18.3 tons, the 

 percentage of sugar in the beet 16.7, and the purity 84.7. The results with Red top 

 sugar beet were not included in the average figures just given. This variety gave an 

 average yield of 24.5 tons per acre, with 11.8 per cent of sugar and 79.2 purity. 



Seedling canes and manurial experiments at Barbados, 1903-1905, J. P. 

 d' Albuquerque and J. R. Bovell (Imp. Dept. Agr. West Indies, Pamphlet 40, 1906, 

 pp. 119). — A summary of part of the work with sugar cane carried on under the 

 direction of the Imperial Department of Agriculture is given. 



The varieties of canes were grown on black soils in 12 cases and on red soils in 3. 

 Cane B. 208 again gave good results as plant canes, especially on red soi's. B. 147 



