44 EXPERIMENT STATIOI^J^ RECORD. 



"Adding the total yields of the most productive hill of the vurieties together, and 

 suhtracting from tliis sum the same total for the least i)roductive liill, it appears that 

 the actual excess in yield of the seed from the most productive hills was a trifle over 

 180 per cent. It is difficult to explain this difference in yield on any other hypoth- 

 esis than the difference in the inherent vigor of the samples of seed planted. It 

 must be rememl^ered that the weight of the seed i)lanted was the same, that the con- 

 ditions of growth were the same, and that the method of selection was rather against 

 the most productive hills, because while the largest tubers from the least productive 

 hills were used for seed, the majority of the largest tubers from the most productive 

 hills were rejected. 



"This experiment has not tended to increase the yield of the varieties used, 

 because the most productive hills were continually hampered by having the seed 

 tubers cut up fine to keep them comparable to the least productive hills. It demon- 

 strates the increased vigor of the most productive hills and nothing more. 



"It is believed that these experiments, reaching as they do through 14 years, are 

 sufficient to demonstrate the principle that vigor in the potato plant, as in other 

 plants, may be maintained and increased by selection. The potato grower may 

 doubtless prevent the failure of his varieties Ijy the method of seed selection indi- 

 cated in this article. Where the digging machine is employed, the best way to carry 

 out the plan would be to grow a plat of potatoes each year on the best soil, to be 

 used expressly for seed selection, and to dig this i)lat by hand. The selected tubers 

 from this plat could be used the next season to produce the seed for the main crop 

 the following year. This is substantially the method practiced by seed grow-ers in 

 maintaining tlie vigor and purity of their seeds." 



Tests of the sugar beet in Pennsylvania, H. P. Armsby and E.H. 

 Hess {Pennsylvama Sta. Bid. Ji-7, pJ^. 8).— A. continuation of work 

 with sugar beets previously reported (E. S. R., 10, p. 40). Eleven 

 varieties were tested. Tabulated data as to average size of beets, 

 sugar content, and percentage of purity are given for beets grown in 

 33 counties, and these data are summarized for the more important 

 sugar-beet districts of the State. A study was made of the best time 

 of harvesting. The average weight of the beets grown in the entire 

 State was 1.33 lbs.; average sugar content, 12.66 per cent; and aver- 

 age percentage purity, 81.8. About the last of October or first of 

 November is considered the most suitable time for harvesting sugar 

 beets in Pennsylvania. Original Kleinwanzlebener and Troensegaard 

 Elite were the 2 best varieties grown. 



Test of corn-cultural implements, W. C. Latta {Luluuia St<t. 

 Bjjt. 1890, ]_>p. ol-oo). — The relative value of a number of different 

 makes of cultivators for corn have been tested at the station contiiui- 

 ously for 11 seasons. The results thus fai- ol)tained, in the opinion of 

 the author, seem to justify the following conclusions: "'(1) The kind 

 of implement is not so important as thoroughness and carefulness in 

 using the same. (2) In well-drained soils, deeply broken and well 

 filled with hunms, deep culture of the corn crop does not seem neces- 

 sary at any stage of its growth.-' 



Report on experiments in 1899, J. R. Dunstan iAijr. I>ept. Univ. Col, Notting- 

 ham landl MUUand Dnivij Jn.^t., 1S99, pp. 35).— Report on cooperative manure and 

 variety experiments with potatoes, barley, and grass; on spraying charlock; and on 

 rotation, manure, and cropping experiments. 



