FIELD CROPS. 1 153 



outranked all the other varieties tested on the black soils. Of the newer varieties 

 B. 1,529 stood second on both Mark and red soils. The results indicated thai the 

 application of nitrogen both to plants and rattoons is profitable. Sulphate of potash 

 was also profitable, bul phosphatic fertilizers either had no effecl or decreased the 

 yield. 



Report on experiments with varieties of swedes, 1902-1905, \\ '. Ai.i w 

 i Edinb. and East of Scot Col. Agr. Bul. ;. pp. 16 I. Twenty-four varieties of bw< 

 were tested for 4 years. The varieties varied in productiveness and quality, pro- 

 ductiveness being more inherent in the variety than quality. 



The quality of the crop was influenced by the kind of soil, the size of the roots 

 produced, and the variety grown. Wei and cloudy seasons reduced quality more 

 than quantity. The best producing variety was Premier, which gave on an average 



fully 1 j t.»ns per acre hk.it than ( lonqueror, which si 1 nexl in the tests. In quality 



Kinaldie stood first, Stirling Castle second, and New Arctic third. 



In the production <»f dry matter per acre Magnum Bonum and Queen ranked first 

 and second, respectively, with an average difference of \ cwt. per acre in favor of 

 Magnum Bonum. Next to these varieties in the production of feeding material 

 stood Premier, Paragon, and Stirling Castle. 



On the lime factor for the tobacco plant, <b Daikuhara {Bul. Imp. Cent. Agr. 

 Expt. Sta. Japan, l {1905), No. l, pp. 11-22, pis. 8).— In order to determine the 

 besl ratio of lime to magnesia in a son 1 used for the growth of tobacco a series of pol 

 experiments was made in which ratios f 1, 2, and i parte of lime to 1 of magnesia 

 were used. The best results were obtained with a ratio of 4 parts. if lime to 1 of 

 magnesia. In all east's the tobacco plants were benefited by the application of lime. 



The results of seed tests at the German seed control stations I Milt. I >, uL 

 Landw. GeseU., 21 {1906), No. 11, pp. 121-128).— The number of samples tested and 

 the average germination and purity at different seed control stations where this kind 

 of work has been in progress for from 10 to 28 years are given in a table and briefly 

 discussed. 



Attention is called to the fact thai salable beet <i'^i\ must come up to the following 

 requirements: A kilogram of beet seed must produce at least 70,000 sprouts in 14 

 days after planting, and of this number at least 46,000 must be produced in the first 

 6 days. Of !<><> seed bulls not less than 75 must have Bprouted in this time. The 

 water content of the seed is considered normal up to 15 per cent, inclusive, and up to 

 17 per cent, inclusive, the seed may still be sold bul a deduction in weight for the 

 extra moisture content must be allowed. 



Standard seed may contain 3 per cent of foreign matter, but when the content 

 reaches r> per cent a deduction in weighl must be allowed. < >\vr 17 per cent of mois- 

 ture or morethan 5 per cent of foreign matter in a beet sample makes it unmarket- 

 able according to the law. 



Report of the seed control station at Vienna for 1905, T. von Wi:i\zn:i;i. 

 (Ztochr. Landw. Versuchsw. Oesterr., 9 {1906), No.S,pp. 979 882, pi. t).—A review of 

 the work of the station during the 25 years of its existence is given. During this 

 period 200,867 determinations were made. 



A list of s ."> Beed firms cooperating with the station is given, together with a regis- 

 ter of the demonstration fields and forage plant and grass seed culture investigations 

 established and in progress since 1898. The work conducted in the Alpine regions 

 from 1890 to 1905 is described and the different investigations carried on in 1905 are 



noted. 



Studies of weeds. I, Some common thistles, J. Pbbcival {Jour /»'</. Agr. 

 [London], 12 {1906), No. J.', pp. 705-715, figs. 10).— The 4 common thistles Oarduus 

 srispus, Cnicus lanceolatus, C. palustris, and C. arvensis are described and figured, and 



directions for the extermination of each species are given. 

 4113— No. 12—06 3 



