ANNUAL REPORT, 1934 27 



that the barley seed formed on plants grown in copper containers was not only 

 viable but also produced good barley seed; i. e., seed of the second generation 

 was not affected by the copper container in which seeds of the first generation 

 were grown. 



Absorption of Nutrients by Clay Pots. (H. D. Haskins and L. H. Jones.) 

 Special clay pots without drainage holes were used to ascertain the amount of 

 nutrients absorbed by clay pots in contact with soil. Empty pots on a bench soil 

 absorbed more nutrients than soil-filled pots in glass saucers. Soil-filled pots 

 kept fallow showed a greater gain in nutrients than similar pots containing plants. 

 Evidently some of the nutrients that move from the soil to the pot may be re- 

 covered by a growing plant. Quantitative determinations were made in terms of 

 nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potassium oxide, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, 

 and sulfates. 



DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY 



W. S. Ritchie in Charge 



The Effect of Fertilizer and Cultural Treatment on the Composition of Havana 

 Seed Tobacco. (E. B. Holland and E. Bennett.) Havana seed tobacco has been 

 raised experimentally on the station plots for many years and the web from the 

 various grades of leaf has been analyzed for a sufficient portion of the time to 

 establish positive trends. The results are being summarized and presented in a 

 series of articles covering various phases of the investigation. The first two papers 

 are entitled "Yield and Grades of Havana Seed Tobacco and Seasonal Influences" 

 and "Analyses of Smoking and Cigarette Tobaccos." The immediate continua- 

 tion of the project will depend on whether any aspects of the work appear to 

 warrant additional study. 



Nitrogen Intake of Havana Seed Tobacco in Relation to Nitrogen Synthesis 

 and Quality of Leaf. (E. B. Holland and A. B. Beaumont.) This is a cooperative 

 project with Agronomy and may be considered as embracing two distinct phases 

 i. e., the effect of different amounts of nitrogen and of different forms of nitrogen 

 on the yield and quality of leaf. 



The total yield of cured leaf increased with the nitrogen applied, due largely 

 to the increase in the size and weight of dark wrappers and to some of the seconds. 

 The production of light and medium wrappers and long seconds reached the 

 maximum on 164.50 pounds of nitrogen. Higher applications obviously increased 

 the risk of producing a leaf of poorer burning qualities. Seasonal influences had a 

 decided influence on the grades. 



Systematic Study of Oil Sprays. (E. B. Holland.) The cooperative study with 

 Entomology of the stability and effectiveness of various miscible oils in controlling 

 orchard insect pests has been continued. In 1933 the miscibles were prepared 

 from special oils containing more unsaturated hydrocarbons than those formerly 

 employed, together with triethanolamine and oleic acid as the emulsifying agent. 

 The oils were supplied by three different manufacturers. A portion of these mis- 

 cibles, after standing a year, was applied the past season (1934) and proved 

 equal in control to one of the best commercial products used as a standard and 

 did not injure the buds or retard growth. In general a spindle oil requiring only 

 a moderate amount of emulsifier seems preferable for spraying purposes. 



