NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



297 



and Colorado. The root becomes rotten at the tip, and rots upwards. In 

 the later stages, a transparent bacterial fluid was abundantly present, 

 which smelt strongly of acetic acid. The organism proved to be a 

 bacterium, which grew best under anaerobic conditions, and could pro- 

 duce the disease when healthy roots were infected with it. The disease 

 occurs on wet undrained soils, and has not been found where drainage is 

 good. It can also destroy roots stored in heaps. — W. G. S. 



Sugar Beet in Nebraska, Culture of. By T. L. Lyon and A. T. 

 Wiancko (U.S.A. Exp. Stn. Nebraska, Bull. No. 73, 3/1902).— An 

 account of the cultivation of Sugar Beets upon a large scale (over 2,000 

 acres) during 1901. The experiments in testing varieties, fertilisers, and 

 various methods of cultivation were continued, together with an examina- 

 tion of the moisture contents of soils under different conditions &c. 



The season's experience taken as a whole showed that Sugar Beets 

 may be considered superior in drought-resisting qualities to any other 

 field crop, except Alfalfa. 



The comparison between light and heavy soils shows that sugar con- 

 tent, purity, and yield were higher on the heavy soil ; but, owing to the 

 severe caking effects of a prolonged drought, the average results were 

 slightly in favour of the lighter soil, which was in better condition. 



Tests of different fertilisers, in various quantities and combinations, 

 showed that the yield is slightly increased by their use, but that they 

 make no difference in the sugar content and purity of the juice. 



Various methods of cultivation tend to show that, to be effective, a 

 mulch of 3 or 4 ins. deep must be maintained, but deeper cultivation is 

 apt to interfere with the fine lateral roots of the Beets. 



The most satisfactory distances in planting are 18 ins. between the 

 rows and 8 ins. between the plants. This allows of horse cultivation. 



Comparisons between late and early planting are in favour of the 

 latter (which extends from April till the third week in May), except where 

 trouble has been experienced from "leaf-spot," which is apt to attack 

 early-planted fields, especially on light soils. 



Cultivation when the plant is in full growth, although somewhat 

 detrimental to the leaves, increases the average weight of the Beets, 

 especially when the ground has become caked. 



Wet weather after the Beets have ripened generally lessens the sugar 

 contents, but increases the weight, so that it is the manufacturer who 

 loses, not the farmer. This is not the case when buds form on the 

 crowns ; the Beets should then be harvested as soon as possible before 

 they deteriorate. 



Diseases, such as " leaf-spot" (Cercospora bcticola) and a form of 

 root-rot (Phyllosticta), were treated, the former by spraying with Bordeaux 

 mixture; the latter by plentiful applications of fresh lime. The results 

 were satisfactory, thougn not conclusive. 



Insects, such as the striped blister beetle and grasshoppers, were 

 effectually provided for with Paris green and lead arsenate. — C. H. C. 



Sugar-cane, Improvement of Races of the, by Selective 

 Vegetative Propagation. By J. D. Kobus (Ann. Jard. Bot. Butt. 



