290 TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY REPORT. 
During these experiments the Station has codperated with the 
United States Department of Agriculture in testing varieties, and 
later in attempts to grow sugar-beet seed. A large amount of 
valuable data has been accumulated, but the tests have not yet been 
concluded, and no results have been published. 
TOBACCO. 
Some work was done with tobacco soon after the Station was 
established, but none in recent years. These early tests® were, 
even when first made, considered suggestive only; so it would be 
profitless to discuss them in detail now. 
The use of a layer of pulverized sphagnum moss on the seed 
bed was found beneficial by checking evaporation and shading and 
protecting the seedlings. A similar layer of moss beneath a layer 
of soil did not appear to influence either roots or plants. 
Primed plants, alternated with those not primed, gave the greater 
weight of cured leaf. The largest yield and best quality were 
given by plants one foot apart in rows three feet apart. 
Decided advantage was shown from early planting of vigorous, 
early maturing plants, so that they could be topped as early as 
possible. In successive toppings, three days apart, beginning July 
31, there was a continuous decrease in the percentage of cured 
leaf from the second to the last topping. In curing experiments 
it was found that splitting the stalk so as to hang the plants over 
laths resulted in rapid drying and great loss of weight; but that 
partial splitting of stalks to allow stringing on laths caused little 
more loss than hanging with twine. 
The fertilizer tests did not agree in different years, but indicated 
unfavorable influence of some chemicals, including sulphate of 
potash in excess, and sulphate of iron. Manure produced a freer 
burning tobacco than chemical fertilizers. 
WHEAT. 
The work with wheat®™ has been very unsatisfactory so far as 
definite results are concerned. The unreliability of ordinary field 
comparisons was shown more plainly, perhaps, with wheat than 
° Rpts. 1:148-154 (1882) ; 2:227-234 (1883); 3:326-328 (1884). 
® Rpts. 1231-34 (1882); 2:140-141 (1883); 3:83-88 (1884); 4:112-128 
(1885); 5272-99, I15, 116, 133, 134 (1886); 6:58-63 (1887); 9:369-372 
(1890). 
