293 
made until Oct. 6, when some of the most advanced stalks were 
tested with the polariscope for cane sugar. At this time the seeds 
on the canes tested were hardly in the milk, the most of the plat be- 
ing still in bloom. Other tests were made on Oct. 19 and on Oct. 
24, the most of the seed being in the milk, none of it being hard 
and very little of it in the dough. 
The results of these tests are given below : 
Sugar in juice of Sorghum. 


Average Av. wt. oz. Cane 
length of stripped Sp. gr. sugar Total 
Date. cane in feet. cane. juice. juice. by polar. Glucose. sugar. 
Oct. 6 9 L9 49,15 1.066 11.98 - 
Oct. 19 9g 19, 44.0, 1.068 12. L6 2.81 14.97 
Oct. 24 9 22 44.0. 1.068 - 11.95 2.60 14.55 
Some of the most promising varieties of sorghum have been plant- 
ed in the experiment plats each of the four years since the estab- 
lishment of the Station, and in only one of them (1882) has the crop 
reached maturity. The two following years all varieties weré nearly 
a total failure. 
LYSIMETER. 
Throughout the year monthly examinations have been made of 
water from the three lysimeters in the same manner as in previous 
years. ‘The results obtained have been unexpected and difficult of 
explanation, The amount of nitrates which the water has contained 
being, in parts per million, many fold what was found in the water 
from neighboring drains. This may be due to several undetermined 
causes, viz: difference in the composition of the soil, difference in 
the amount of nitrification, or the influence of the soil water in dilu- 
ting or preventing drainage from the surface soil of the plats, ete. 
These subjects are about to be tested experimentally, and discus- 
sion of our results is deferred until our experiments are completed, in 
the hope that more light may be thrown upon them. We insert, 
however, all results to date, including previous years as they appear- 
ed in the last annual report of this station. 
The treatment of the soil in each lysimeter has been the same 
since they were placed in position, viz: No. 1 is covered with sod, 
the grass being kept short by frequent cuttings. No. 2 is kept free 
from all vegetation, its surface being left undisturbed. ‘I'he surface 
of No. 3 is kept in a loose and fine condition by frequent stirrings 
with a trowel. 
During the first year, 1883, the water from all of the lysimeters 
was mixed and analyzed together ; since January, 1884, the water 
from each has been examined separately. The determinations made 
have been total solids, chlorine, nitrogen in free ammonia and in ni- 
trates. | 
