UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS.

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE.

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION.

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

UPON THE

TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET

FOR ALKALI.

By G. W. SHAW.

BULLETIN No. 169.

(Berkeley, Cal., May, 1905.)

SACRAMENTO: w. w. shannon, ::::::: superintendent state printing.

1 905.

BENJAMIN IDE WHEELER, Ph.D., LL.D., President of the University.

EXPERIMENT STATION STAFF.

E. W. HILGARD, Ph.D., LL.D., Director and Chemist.

E. J. WICKSON, M.A., Horticulturist.

W. A. SETCHELL, Ph.D., Botanist.

ELWOOD MEAD, M.S., C.E., Irrigation Engineer.

C. W. WOODWORTH, M.S., Entomologist.

R. H. LOUGHRIDGE, Ph.D., Agricultural Geologist and Soil Physicist. {Soils and Alkali.)

M. E. JAFFA, M.S., Assistant Chemist. (Foods, Nutrition.)

G. W. SHAW, M.A., Ph.D., Assistant Chemist. (Starches, Oils, Beet-Sugar.)

GEORGE E. COLBY, M.S., Assistant Chemist. (Fruits, Waters, Insecticides.)

RALPH E. SMITH, B.S., Plant Pathologist.

A. R. WARD, B.S.A., D.V.M., Veterinarian, Bacteriologist.

E. W. MAJOR, B.Agr., Animal Industry.

A. V. STUBENRAUCH, M.S., Assistant Horticulturist, in charge of Substations.

E. H. TWIGHT, B.Sc, Diploma E.A.M., Viticulturist.

F. T. BIOLETTI, M.S., Viticulturist.

WARREN T. CLARKE, B.S., Assistant Field Entomologist.

H. M. HALL, M.S., Assistant Botanist.

H. J. QUAYLE, A.B., Assistant Entomologist.

GEORGE ROBERTS, M.S., Assistant Chemist, in charge Fertilizer Control.

C. M. HARING, D.V.M., Assistant Veterinarian and Bacteriologist.

O. A. COLMORE, B.S., Clerk to the Director.

R. E. MANSELL, Foreman of Central Station Grounds.

JOHN TUOHY, Patron, )

y Tulare Substation, Tulare. JULIUS FORRER, Foreman, )

J. E. McCOMAS, Patron, Pomona,

J. W. MILLS, Superintendent, Pomona,

In charge Cooperation Experiments of Southern California,

JOHN H. BARBER, Assistant Superintendent, Ontario,

J. W. ROPER, Patron,

HENRY WIGHTMAN, In charge

Southern California Substation.

[■ University Forestry Station, Chico.

ROY JONES, Patron, )

V University Forestry Station, Santa Monica. WM. SHUTT, Foreman, )

H. O. WOODWORTH, M.S., Foreman of Poultry Station, Petaluma.

The Station publications (Reports and Bulletins), so long as avail- able, will be sent to any citizen of the State on application.

FIELD OBSERVATIONS UPON TOLERANCE OF THE

SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI.

By G. W. SHAW.

While acting as agricultural expert for a company interested in the beet industry in Colorado, the attention of the writer was frequently drawn to the effect of the soluble-salt constituents of the soil (alkali) upon the sugar beet. On account of the fact that the general condi- tions which obtained in the irrigated regions are especially favorable to the production of high-grade beets, and since in such regions there are usually to be found many acres of land upon which these sol- uble salts appear in greater or less concentration and frequently have killed the normal vegetation, and especially because of much apparent contradiction in the action of these lands toward the sugar-beet crop, the writer became interested in attempting to determine the limits of tolerance of the sugar beet toward alkali, and it is as a contribution to this work that this bulletin is prepared, reviewing certain work which was conducted by the writer in 1900 at Grand Junction, Colorado, and extended during the summer of 1904 at Oxnard, California.

PREVIOUS WORK IN CALIFORNIA.

Certain investigators, notably Drs. Hilgard and Loughridge of this Station, and Professors Buffum and Slosson of the Wyoming Station, had already conducted some interesting and suggestive work upon the relation of alkali to sugar beets. Dr. Loughridge,* in discussing the toleration of alkali by sugar beets grown in three different localities, shows it to be:

Sulfates.	Carbonates.	Chlorids.	Nitrates.	Total.
No. 1 No. 2	8,920 7,160 2,360	3,360 3,040 3,360	3,280 1,520 3,280	1,440 560 320	17,000 12,280
No. 3	9,320

From this and other data he concludes that the limit of tolerance for sugar beets, so far as he has observed, is as follows.

For sulfates over 7,000 lbs. per acref

For sodium chlorid " 1,500 " "

For sodium carbonate " 3,000 " " "

For nitrates " 2,600 " " "

He considers chlorids and nitrates even more injurious than carbon- ates and sulfates. He says:J "The data and observations recorded * * prove beyond question that sugar beets of good and even high

* Loughridge, R. H. : California Experiment Station Report, 1895-96, p. 49.

f To depth of three feet in each case.

X Hilgard and Loughridge: California Experiment Station Report, 1894-95, p. 90.

*

4 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION.

grade, both as to sugar and purity, may be grown on land containing as much as 12,000 pounds of alkali salts per acre to the depth of three feet; provided that the percentage of common salt does not exceed an average of 0.04 per cent, or 1,600 pounds per acre." The above figures are " not final, and good sugar beets might be grown with a higher per cent of any one of the salts, all other conditions being favorable." In a later report* it is stated that on soil containing from 7,000 to 12,000 pounds of alkali (in three feet), chiefly glauber salt, excellent sugar beets were grown at the Southern California substation, but at from 18,000 to 20,000 pounds they failed to produce a crop. Beets grown on the former soil averaged 14.1 per cent of sugar; purity, 80 per cent.

OBSERVATIONS IN COLORADO.

It is regretted that the circumstances in Colorado did not permit a more thorough examination of the under soil, for in but few cases was it possible to extend the work to a greater depth than the top foot — the writer having removed to California before the completion of the work contemplated. However, the limited number of analyses taken, together with field observations and the experience of certain farmers in the application of water, seems to indicate that in the virgin soil the heavy per cent of alkali lies above the fourth foot, and that the shallow irrigation practiced has brought the excessive amounts now in the sur- face foot from that depth. This evil effect of shallow irrigation has been augmented by underground seepage from the canals in the locali- ties which are inclined to sandy loams, by an upward leaching of the soil.

The following soluble-salt determinations made upon soils producing either good or fair crops of beets indicate the condition of the top foot in such fields:

TABLE I. — Soluble Salts in Colorado Soil Producing Fair Crops.

	Locality.	Per Cent.	Pounds per Acre-foot.
No	Chlo- rids.	Carbon-; Sul - ates. fates.	Total.	Chlo- rids.	Carbon- ates.	Sul- fates.	Total.
7 10 15 +20 1!» 22 23 35	Sec. 13, T. 1S..R.1 E.__. Sec. 19, T. 1S..R.1 E.._. Sec. 9, T. 1N.,R. 1 E.— Sec. 5, T. 1N.,R. 1 E.__. Sec. 5, T. IN., R. 1 E._._ Sec. 16, T. 1S.,R. 1 E.___ Sec. 15, T. 1 S.,R. 1 E._- Sec. 11, T. 1N.,R. 2 W. .. Average .. -	.023 .070 .028 .036 .046 .036 .019 .034	trace trace .007 .014 .005 .007 .003 .004	.139 .114 .032 .172 .113 .159 .042 .006	.162 .184 .067 .222 .164 .202 .064 .044	i 920 2,800 1,120 1,440 1,840 1,440 760 1,360	trace trace 280 560 200 280 120 160	5,560 4,560 1,280 6,880 4,520 6,360 1,680 240	6,480 7,360 2,680 8,880 6,560 S.O.SII 2,560 1,760
	.036	.004 .087	.127	1,440 160	3,480	5,080

* Hilgard, E. W. : California Experiment Station Report, 1897-98, pp. 129, 142. + An uncultivated soil. Not included in the average.

TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI.

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6 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT STATION.

While the yield in these fields is not high when considered independ- ently, yet, as compared with the remainder of the section and in con- nection with the seasonal yield of the region, it was above the average, being 8.45 tons per acre, and ranging from 7.76 tons to 20.98 tons, with an average sugar-content of 16.03 per cent and purity of 81.8 per cent.

The indication here is that while the soluble-salt content of these soils is high, yet fair and even good beets can be produced even when the total alkali-content reaches as high as 5,000 pounds in the top foot, and may perhaps even reach 7,000 pounds, other conditions being favorable.

In other localities, however, the conditions were quite different, as will be seen in Table II, showing results from fields failing to produce crops, although the conditions of cultivation, etc., were as good as in the former cases.

Comparing, now, the figures in Table II with the limits indicated above, estimating that the Grand Junction soil carries three fourths of the alkali in the top foot, we find that on the ground where beets failed, fifteen out of sixteen samples carried in the top foot much more chlorid than the total amount named above for three feet, and that the average was ten times the figure given above. In the single case where the chlorids were low the sulfates alone surpassed the 9,000-pound limit for the top foot.

A just consideration of these facts leaves little doubt as to the pri- mary causes of many of the failures with the beet crop on these soils, although it is but just to say that large areas in the locality are well adapted to the beet, and that by a proper discrimination as to soils these difficulties may be obviated.

OBSERVATIONS AT OXNARD.

Opportunity offered during the season of 1904 to extend observations along the same line, at Oxnard, California. It may be said at this point that the general conditions in this locality for the production of sugar beets, both as to quality and quantity, are exceptionally good, and the conditions here presented are for special fields and are not presented as representing widespread conditions.

After a preliminary examination, certain fields were selected for study, mainly because the appearance of the beets, the general condi- tion of their crop, and the appearance of the soil, so closely resembled those observed at Grand Junction, Colorado.

Appearance of Alkalied Beets. — As to the crop in the affected fields, the condition which -would first attract attention was the "patchy' appearance of these fields. This was due to a very uneven stand, and to a considerable irregularity in the size of the plants in the various

TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI.

parts of the fields. Almost equally striking was the prevalence of chlorosis of the older leaves and a sprangling tap-root, in some cases entire fields being thus affected, but more often only portions of certain fields.

The beets of these fields had a distinctly different appearance from the so-called "blighted" beets, and were not characterized by such an abnormal development of side roots as usually accompanies the former conditions. Nor was there the characteristic darkening of the outer layer of cells of the crown and basal portion of the petioles.

The reader will better perceive the difference in the appearance of a typical "alkalied" beet and one affected with the so-called (,

"blight," by contrasting the fol- lowing illustrations:

Fig. 1. Beets stunted by alkali.

Fig. 2. Beet affected by "blight.

This may be due to several causes: (a) The alkali may retard, or even prevent the germination of the seed; (6) it may destroy the plants after germination, either on account of its concentration as a whole, or of some one of its ingredients.

Difficulty in Securing a Good Stand in Alkali Soil. — Often the greatest difficulty is experienced, in localities subject to alkali, in securing a good stand of beet plants. This usually is more true of clay than of sandy soils. An examination of ground destitute of plants will nearly always reveal either the presence of an alkali-content on the surface of such spots, or the peculiar fine dust mulch so common in such regions. Even though the beets are caused to germinate by irrigation in such cases, the stand is invariably uneven.

In such cases it is undoubtedly true that the density of the soil solu-

8

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION.

tion has been too great, thus destroying the vitality of the seed, or, in the case of germination, the plants died very shortly from a constantly increasing density of the soil solution. This would soon reach such a degree of density as to so nearly equal that of the plant that passage of water from the soil into the plant was checked, and starvation from a lack of water results.

In an investigation as to the strength of the soil solution in the Colorado analyses, the writer found, for the top foot of the soil, the following results:

Percentage in Soil Water.

Depth,

Sulfates.

Carbonates (as Sodium Carbonate).

Chlorids (as Sodium Chlorid).

Total Alkali.

For 20% water For 10% water

1.86 3.66

.14

.27

.97 1.93

2.97 5.86

The calculation was made for 10 per cent and 20 per cent because of an investigation of the amount of water present in a field with heavy soil and made at the time when the plants were growing and when they were not. Two days after irrigation there was found to be from 18 to 20 per cent of water in a heavy adobe soil on the side of the plant next to the water furrow.

The soil in the same field, when it had not been irrigated for several days, contained but 8 to 12 per cent. In the latter case the plants had not ceased growing, but were suffering from lack of water. This concentration of solution, beyond question, had a bearing upon the retardation or prevention of germination.

EXPERIMENTS IN WYOMING.

At the Wyoming Experiment Station, Prof. E. E. Slosson* experi- mented with solutions of magnesium and sodium sulfate, sodium chlo- rid, and sodium carbonate, using seeds of corn, sunflower, peas, wheat, rye, buckwheat, alfalfa, rape, and scirpus. The effect of sodium car- bonate was to corrode , disintegrate, and destroy the seed, if more than small amounts were used; as a result, only the neutral salts were used throughout the experimentation, since sodium carbonate entirely pre- vents germination. In summing up the results of a long series of experiments, he concludes that in all cases the presence of salts in solu- tion hinders the absorption of water in a ratio increasing with the osmotic pressure of the solution. Dilute solutions of alkali retard germination, stronger solutions prevent it entirely. He used solutions

* Slosson, E. E.: Alkali Studies IV, pp. 1-29, July, 1899: Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station Report f or 1899.

TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 9

varying from 0 to 9 per cent. The retarding effect was greatest when sodium carbonate or sodium chlorid was used. There was a wide differ- ence shown in the deleterious effects of alkali upon the seeds of different species.

Prof. B. C. Buffum conducted a series of experiments quite like those by Professor Slosson. His conclusions are similar, and are as follows:

(1) "The presence of very small amounts of sodium sulfate, sodium chlorid, magnesium sulfate, or sodium carbonate undoubtedly has a beneficial effect on the germination of seeds and the growth of plants.

(2) "Of the salts most abundant in the alkali of the arid regions, those that have the greatest detrimental effects on germination, in order, are: sodium carbonate, sodium chlorid, sodium sulfate, and magnesium sulfate.

(3) "The retarding effect of a salt solution on the germination of seeds is in direct proportion to its osmotic pressure, except where other factors enter in, such as the caustic effect of sodium carbonate, or where solutions are very dilute." *

. The presence of over one per cent of sodium carbonate, and over nine per cent of sodium chlorid effectually prevented the germination of wheat and rye seeds. In a still later joint report by Messrs. Buffum and Slosson f are given the results of experiments conducted with the growth of wheat and alfalfa in sand containing, in addition to a nutrient solution, amounts of sodium and potassium chlorids and sulfates of known osmotic pressure. The greatest osmotic pressure used was 7.1 atmospheres — about equal to that of a sodium chlorid solution of one per cent. This not only retarded the germination of the seeds, but checked the development of the plants after germination, producing stunted plants of minimuiri size as compared with the check plants grown in a nutrient solution.

Since the sugar-tjeet seeds in the fields at Grand Junction must have been subjected at times to soil solutions very much more dense than those used by Professors Slosson and Buffum, what they found to have taken place in pots used in experimentation must have occurred to a greater degree in the field. The per cent of sodium carbonate in some fields was sufficient during periods of minimum moisture to injure those plants fortunate enough to get through when the soil contained its maximum moisture. The average of 16 to 31 per cent of soluble salts in the soil solution, even of sulfates, is sufficient to greatly retard germi- nation, if not to entirely prevent it. The sodium chlorid, on account of its higher osmotic pressure, has a greater effect than the sulfates.

* Buffum, B. C. : Alkali Studies 111 : Wyoming Agricultural Station Report for 1899. t Buffum, B. C, and Slosson, E. E. : Alkali Studies V: Wyoming Agricultural Experi- ment Station Report for 1900.

10

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT STATION.

The osmotic pressure exerted by the salts mentioned are estimated by Professor Slosson as follows:

Salt Per Pressures, in

Cent. Atmospheres.

Sodium chlorid 1 7.4

Sodium carbonate 1 4.3

Sodium sulfate 1 3.9

Magnesium sulfate 1 2.8

Sugar... 1 0.7

OBSERVATIONS AT OXNARD, CALIFORNIA.

At Oxnard this unevenness of stand was marked in many fields, typical cases being seen in the illustrations referring to fields IX, XI and XII.

■	l	■		TWIWPIr^^^^^^Wr^
...... mm. - j^^^^Jmff;-- . ■■
	. <■*»- 'J	?-£y ''%■■,$'';.,■ ,. .-.-"%■■ * '.*> ".'
	' .r:, ' '.:	z '■ Y^jT' ' $■ ':'<5W«: ' *	-X « ' ^^ ^ ^ *	"' ''j&h4&^''' ' " ■' ^^^^^' '

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Fig. 3. Field IX, showing both good and poor beets.

The conditions in these fields were especially favorable for observations upon the tolerance of the sugar beet for alkali.

FIELD IX, OXNARD.

Field IX consisted of 33 acres, all planted to beets. The previous crops grown on this land had been — in 1902, hay, and in 1903, beets, which yielded 9 tons per acre, and in this portion of the field the esti- mated tonnage was 3 to 4 tons only. The field was exceedingly spotted in appearance, not only on account of the uneven bearing spots, which occurred in larger or smaller places all over the field, but also on account of the apparently uneven ripening of the beets. Wherever the beet leaves still appeared green, examination showed the soil to be

TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI.

11

moist, even to the top of the ground; but where the beets appeared ripe the ground was dry and hard. The field was winter plowed to a depth of 12 inches, and seeded on March 5th in rows 18 inches apart; thinned April 16th, and harvest began August 22d. On the north and east of the field are irrigation ditches, built in 1902. While previous to that time alkali was known to exist in the locality, yet it did not show in excess until after the ditches had been constructed, which suggests the possi- bility of seepage from that source, although that was not positively established.

Alkali shows generally over the field, appearing in apparently larger

Fig. 4. Field IX, showing a spot of beets growing in strong alkali.

quantities in the spots where no beets were growing. One of the bare spots (see Fig. 4) surrounded an island of slightly higher ground on which were growing beets of poor form, showing the short, stubby and branch- ing characteristics of strongly alkali soils generally. This beet island, surrounded by the perfectly bare ground on which there was an efflo- rescence of alkali, is well shown in Fig. 4. By cross-sectioning the field at this point, both as to soil samples and beets, we were able to pass successively through fair beets, poor beets, no beets, and to also reverse the order on the other side of the spot of beets. This, as well as the general shape of the alkali spots, is shown in Fig. 5, the location of good and poor beets, and the point at which the soil samples were taken.

12

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION.

Analyses showing the distribution of the soluble salts are here pre- sented:

TABLE III.— Soluble Salts in Field IX, Oxnanl.

	Percentage in Soil.		Pounds	per Acre.
Depth.	CO P CO	Carbonates (as Sodium Car- bonate)	Chlorids (as Sodium Chlorid)	c r*- P > P	CO p - 1 1 1	Carbonates (as Sodium Car- bonate)	Chlorids (as Sodium Chlorid)	H o p > P
No. IX— 9. First foot _ ... - . -	.2416 .4328	none none	.0552 .1104	.2968 .5432	9,680 17,320	none none	2,200 4J400	11,880
Second foot	21,720

Average and total.-.	.3372	none	.0828	.4200	27.000	none	6,600	33,600
No. IX— 10. Firstfoot	.5277 .3154	none none	.2227 .1574	.7504 .4728	21,108 12,600	none none	8,908 6,280	30,016
Second foot _ .	18,880

Average and total ...	.4215	none	.1901	.6116	33,708	none	15,188	18,896
No. IX— 11. Firstfoot	.4814 .4213	none none	• .1778 .2227	.6592 .6440 .6515	19,240 16,840	none none none	7,120 8,920	26,360
Second foot _.	25,760

Average and total. ._	.4513	none	.2002	36,080	16,040	52,120
No. IX— 12. Firstfoot	.2532 .4672	none none	.1196 .0288	.3728 .4960	10,128 18,680	none none	4,784 1,160	14,912
Second foot . . .. .	19,840

Average and total...	.3602	none	.0712	.4344	28,808	none	5,944	34,752
No. IX— 13. First foot . _.. .	.1789 .2715	.010 .010	.1211 .1957	.3100 .4772	7,160 10,880	400 400	4,840 7,840	12,400
Second foot .	19,120

Average and total. ..	.2252	.010	.1584	.3936	is. o-lo	800	12,680	31,520
No. IX— 14. Firstfoot	.1891 .2257	.0067 .0067	.0562 .0652	.2520 .2976	7,560 9,040	280 280	2,240 2,600	10,080
Second foot	11,920

Average and total. ._	.2074	.0067	.0607	.2748	16,600	560	4,840	22,000
No. IX— 15. Firstfoot	.0825 .1284	.0033 .0050	.0562 .0746	.1420 .2080	3,320 5,120	120 200	2,240 3,000	5,680
Second foot .	8,320

Average and total...	.1054	.0041	.0654	.1699	8,440	320	5,240	14,000

Discussion. — In Fig. 7, showing the beets from the respective points of sampling, may be seen the characteristic appearance of "alkalied beets." In position 9 the beets in most cases were fair in size, yet now and then would be shown the " scraggly " tendency of beets growing in strong alkali soils, which in positions 10 and 14 is shown to the greatest degree.

TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI.

13

In position 15 the beets were apparently about the same as those at 9, which is also shown in the illustration. At 12 the beets were better than at either 10 or 14, but distinctly poorer than at 9 and 15. It will be noted that the beets at 12 presented more fully the alkali character-

Fig. 5. Locations in Field IX where samples were taken.

Fig. 6. Alkali curves for Field IX.

istics than do either 9 or 15. This appearance and condition are par- ticularly interesting when taken in connection with the curves showing the alkali conditions which obtained at the points of sampling (see Fig. 6). It will be noted from the curves that as the chlorid content of the

14

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION.

<HV

/Vo JBeets

A/o Beets.

9-u

<?-/Q

Fig. 7. Beets growing on the stations indicated in Fig. 6.

soil approaches .20 per cent, the beets inva- riably become either very much stunted in size or have been entirely destroyed from the effects of the alkali. This is especially noticed at points 10, 11, and 13, Avhile at 12 the beets become measurably better in size, but on ac- count of their poor form must still be classed as poor beets. Here also the chlorid content of the soil has decidedly decreased. This is also true of station 14. If we are to draw any lesson from the data here presented it would be the comparatively limited effect which the sulfates have upon the beets, and the great sensitiveness of the beet to the soluble chlorids. These results are verified by results secured by sampling at right angles to the former cross- section and including samples 18* 12, 16, and 19. The results of which analyses show the following percentage :

Station . . ______	18. No beets.	12. Poor beets.	16. Fair beets.	19.
Condition of beets. . .. -	Good beets.
Sulfates Carbonates	.4063 .0092 .1957	.3602 0000 .0742	.2010 .0044 .0746	.2629 .0101
Chlorids __ .	.0419
Total	.6112	.4344	.2800	.3149

While the time at which the work here re- ported was necessarily done rendered it general- ly impossible to secure extended data as to the sugar-content on the several tracts, it may be said that the beets on plat IX ranged from 17 to 22 per cent sugar in the beet.

FIELD XI, OXNARD.

In Field XI the conditions w7ere much the same as in the former case, although, owing to some subirrigation, the beets, wherever grow- ing, were of much better size. The field had been in beets for the two years preceding and had produced good crops each year. This field lies alongside the waste ditch from the factorv, and is somewhat lower than the ditch, which fact has apparently affected the field by

TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI.

15

an upward leaching of the soil, bringing much alkali to the top. While there were 19 acres of beets originally planted in this field, but 5 acres were actually harvested, the beets carrying a sugar-content of 14.7 per

Fig. 8. General view of Field XI.

Fig. 9. Field XI, looking in opposite direction.

cent, and a purity of 78.1. In taking the soil samples water was found at points 1 and 2 at a depth of about 12 inches, while at point 1 the soil auger could be easily pressed to a depth of 8 feet, on account of the large amount of water in the soil.

16

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT STATION.

The illustrations on page 15 show the appearance of Field XI at the time of sampling, Fig. 8 looking away from the waste ditch from point 6 in the line drawing (Fig. 10), while Fig. 9 reverses the view.

Fig. 10 indicates the distribution of the beets in the field, showing, the stations at which the soil and beet samples were selected, and in the tables herewith presented are stated the alkali determinations for the several indicated stations.

Fig. 10. Location of samples for analysis.

TABLE IV.— Soluble Salts in Field XI, Oxnard.

	Percentage in Soil.	Pounds per Acre.
Depth.	W	Carbonates (as Sodium Car- bonate)	Chlorids (as Sodium Chlorid)	-3 o > :	GO <r+ .-D CD ; ;	Carbonates (as Sodium Car- bonate)	Chlorids (as Sodium Chlorid)	o 3" > CO
No. XI— 1. First foot _ .	.4764 .0990	trace trace	.0276 .0186 .02131	.5040 .1176	19,040 3,960	trace trace	1,120 760	20,160
Second foot ..	4,720

Average and total...	.2877	trace	.3108	23,000	trace	1,880	24,880
No. XI-2. First foot Second foot J	.1976 .2152	traee trace	.0552 .0552	.2528 .2704 .2616	7,920 8,600	trace trace	2,200 2,200	10,120 10,800
Average and total ...	.2064	trace	.0552	16,520	trace	4,400	20,920

TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI.

17

TABLE IV.— Soluble Salts in Field XI, Oxnard— Continued.

Depth.

No. XI- 3.

Firstfoot

Second foot

Average and total...

No. XI— 4.

Firstfoot

Second foot

Average and total...

No. XI— 5.

Average and total, 2 ft.

No. XI— 6.

Firstfoot

Second foot

Average and total.. _

Percentage in Soil.

CO	O
0	creep
i — i	n O *-i.
	bon diu mat
CO	£2£.

	i a>
	! 0»>
	P O
	J-j P
	■ CO

o

£3

H

o

p

b p

.1364 .1684

.1524

.2820 .2960

.2890

.013

.3108 .5608

.4358

trace trace

trace

trace trace

trace

trace trace

trace

.0828 .0644

.0736

.1012 .4640

.2820

.041

.1676

.2784

.2230

.2192

.2328

.2260

.3832 .7600

.5710

.054

.4784 .8392

.6588

Pounds per Acre.

5,440 6,720

12,160

11,280 11,840

o

creep

W P c-t-

; Ore

; Sp

' co

mG	H
oee=r	o

—
O r-"-!
	►
w
1 CD	X

23,120

1,040

12,432 22,440

34,872

trace trace

3,320 2,560

trace

5,880

trace 4,040 trace I 18,560

trace

22,600

3,280

trace trace

trace

6,704 11,120

17,824

8,760 9,320

18,080

15,320 30,400

45,720

4,320

19,136 33,560

52,61)6

Discussion. — Collecting the averages from the tables and developing the curve for the purpose of comparison, we have the following:

Fig. 11. Alkali curve, Field XL

18

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION.

Mo .Beds.

No JZeets U=±

J

Fig. 12. Beets from stations indicated in Fig. 10.

In this location it will be noted that good beets alternate with no beets. As in the former case, there appears to be no connection which one can trace between the relation of good beets to the percentage of either total alkali or sulfate within the limits here shown, except as influenced by the chlorids. The fact that good beets occurred at station 1 with compara- tively high total alkali, while at station 2 no beets were growing, is doubtless because of the increase in the chlorids as shown in the curve.

Further, the distribution of the alkali was far different at the two stations, which un- doubtedly had much to do with the occur- rence of beets at the one and their failure at the other station. By referring to the tabular presentation of analyses it will be observed that at station 1 practically all the alkali was contained in the top foot, and thus largely removed from the more delicate feeding roots of the beet, which extend very deep into the soil, as will be seen in Fig. 13.

Influence of Distribution of Salts. — At station 2, however, the concentration was essentially the same in the second foot as in the first, thus bringing the salts within the immediate reach of these delicate feeders of the plant, a fact which indicates that not only is the total quan- tity of an alkali constituent a factor, but also, a ud perhaps even more than this, the distribu- tion of salt in the soil* which also may explain why one may often find perfectly bare spots in a field known to be tainted with alkali, even though there is but little if any alkali appear- ing near the surface. Such an occurrence may also explain the loss of a crop in a similar field, even though the seed may have germi- nated well and a good stand of beets have been obtained. Whereas with a concentration of the bulk of alkali near the surface the germina- tion of the seed would be poorer from the destruction of the germ.

*See also Report of California Experiment Station, 1894, p. 81.

TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI.

19

FIELD IV, OXNARD.

The influence of the distribution of salts around the feeding roots of the beet also has illustration in Field IV, confirming the idea just pre- sented, particularly as to chlorids. This was a field of 8 acres, in which the seed-bed was well prepared and the stand secured was good. The

" *d$h@% ^" _____ -■ 'MUSS rs&i'
	a
	5H '®>< >BM_k__<r *"%H ^w
<"■'• / '' ; '''-' ,'■ '■''"" '■' ■ ■'■•'

Fig. 13. Root System of Sugar Beet, showing necessity of deep preparation of soil.

field was irrigated previous to planting and had also been irrigated in shallow furrows subsequent to planting. The land north, with a slope toward this field, had been much irrigated, and there seemed to be a marked tendency for alkali to accumulate on this field. The particular thing to attract one's attention was the irregular size of the beets. On

20

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION.

the lower spots, where the water seemed to have stood at the time of irrigation, the beets were generally good, but on the ridges were found universally the characteristic "alkalied" beet, small, sprangly, and stubby. The general cultivation of the field had been poor, the ground being very hard as a result of flooding the land and failing to properly work the soil thereafter.

Sample 1, indicated in the table below, is a composite one from three different places where beets are good, while sample 2 is a composite one taken in the same manner from contiguous ridges on which the beets were decidedly poor.

TABLE V.— Soluble Salts in Field IV, Oxnard.

	Percentage in Soil.	Pounds per Acre.
Depth.	P (t> CO i « i	Carbonates (as Sodium Car- bonate)	Chlorids (as Sodium Chlorid)	o P > P l— ' 1	i — ' p O CO	Carbonates (as Sodium Car- bonate)	Chlorids (as Sodium Chlorid)	0 E > P
No. IV— 1. Firstfoot	.1980 .0269 .0196	■ .0084 .0041 .0034	.1120 .0930 .0930	.3184 .1240 .1160	7,920 1,080 780	320 160 120	4,480 Y>- 720
Second foot _ -	3,720 ! 4,960 3,720 4fi9.0
Third foot

Av'ge and total, 2 ft.. Av'ge and total, 3 ft..	.1124 .0815	.0062 .0053	.1025 .0993	.2211 .1861	9,000 9,780	480 600	8,200 11,920	17,680 22,300
No. IV— 2. Firstfoot	.2866 .2627 .2387	.0097 .0097 .0084	.2237 .2516 .2509	.5200 .5240 .4960	11,480 10,520 9,480 22,000 31,480	360 360 320	8,960 1 20,800 10,080 ! 20,960 10,040 1 19,840
Second foot _ ._
Third foot

Av'ge and total, 2 ft. . Av'ge and total, 3 ft._	.2746 .2627	.0097 .0092	.2376 .2421	.5219 .5140	720 1,040	19,040 \| 41,760 29,080 61,600

The sugar-content of beets from the two points was as follows

Sample No. 1 Sample No. 2

Sugar in Pnritv Juice.

grams. '450.0

218.0

per cent. 17.0 19.0

so. 2 75.9

If we consider these now in the light of previous observations as to the tolerance of beets for the several salts, there would seem little doubt as to the cause of the poor condition of the beets on the high places. On account of the more rapid evaporation from these high places the alkali has doubtless been drawn there until it has passed the tolerance of the beet.

Examining these results we find that in station 1, where the beets

TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 21

were good, the chlorids are below .15 per cent, but in station 2 they exceed .20 per cent, which is the same condition which has held in each of the other cases discussed. No consideration need here be given to the sulfates, since they are much below the amount found in the former cases in which the chlorids are about the same, and in some of the former cases the sulfates even exceed the amount here. Except so far as it may have had a retarding effect upon the crop generally, it needs no consideration.

It will further be noted that in the case of station IV-2 the concen- tration of the alkali is even greater in the second and third foot than in the top, which alone in this case would perhaps be sufficient to prove destructive to the crop with even much smaller percentage than is here shown.

The stronger alkali upon the ridges was doubtless due to the more rapid evaporation of moisture from these spots, owing to greater surface exposure, which in turn would tend to draw the alkali salts to them — a condition usually noticeable in imperfectly leveled fields carrying large amounts of soluble salts.

A further point worthy of observation is the fact that on the low spots the alkali is concentrated in the top-foot, and is thus removed from the great mass of feeding-roots of the beet, thus interfering less with its nutrition. In the soil from the high places the alkali is more evenly distributed through the three feet, and is in each foot much above the limit named by other investigators. A further point of importance indicated is, that the tolerance of the beet for chlorids is considerably higher than observed by Dr. Hilgard, for we find fair beets here growing in an average of 4,000 pounds of chlorid per acre-foot.

That the poorer beets upon the higher places were not due to a too- limited water-content, resulting from greater exposure, is shown from the table giving the water-content of the two locations, in which it will be seen that the higher spots had considerably higher water-content, which fact was also borne out by observations in the field:

Water-content of Soil Samples from Field IV.

Low Spots. High Spots.

Top foot ". 10.38 16.58

Second foot 15.50 18.91

Third foot 20.38 18.33

This increase of moisture is in perfect keeping with the increased alkali, which always tends to render the soils more retentive of mois- ture. This extra amount of moisture, however, is scarcely available for the plant, and the available water for the plant may even be less, on account of the high concentration of the soil solution, due to the large quantity of alkali present. Thus we may even find the plant actually starving in the midst of plenty, on account of an inability to secure sufficient nourishment from such concentrated solutions.

.O

u O O

O

o

be

bo

X

IB

O

TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 23

FIELD XII, OXNARD.

This field was selected for study because of the fact that in the midst of the mother beets which were growing thereon occurred a spot of comparatively regular shape, as will be seen in Fig. 14. The general appearance of the field, and especially of the spot of " alkalied" beets, is shown in Figs. 14 and 15, in the former of which on the right, the generally stunted condition of the beets is well shown, while on the left the beets are good. In the latter the same thing is shown as to the foreground as compared with the background, the line of demarca- tion between good and poor beets being clearly shown in both illus- trations.

Good. ~P><?P.t<<i

•X.

Good

E&z&l

Gonri.

• 6

Good Moihar P><?.<z,tJ

Fig. 15. Alkali spot on Field XII, showing where samples were taken.

In this field a good stand was secured, as shown in the illustrations,, but after a few weeks the beets upon this spot ceased to grow. The con- dition of the plants is very typical of "alkalied" beets. The contrast of these beets with those taken from the other stations on the same- plat is shown in Fig. 14.

On this spot we failed to find a single good beet; but entirely sur- rounding it were beets of both good form and size (see XII, 7, 13, and 14), although in many places could be found the tendency to "sprangle." (XII, 6.)

Alkali determinations were made upon the soils from the stations- indicated in Fig. 15, with the following results:

24

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION.

TABLE VI.— Soluble Salts	in Field XII, Oxnard.	•
	Percentage in Soil.		Pounds	per Acre.
Depth.	CO 0 p— ' ?o c+ (0 CO i i	Carbonates(as Sodium Car- bonate)	Chlorids (as Sodium Chlorid)	t	CO i— i >-» go r+ CD CO	Carbonates (as Sodium Car- bonate)	Chlorids (as Sodium Chlorid)...-	o EC >
No. XII— 4. Firstfoot	.3543 .2810	trace trace	.1949 .1870 .1909	.5492 .4680 .5086	14,160 11,240	trace trace	7,800 7,480	21,960 18,720
Second foot ._

Average and total. __	.3177	trace	25,400	trace	15,280	40,680
No. XII-6. Firstfoot	.6048 .5220	.008 trace	.1104 .1196	.7160 .6416	24,200 20,880 45,080	320	4,400 4,760	28,920 25,640
Second foot .

Average and total. ._	.5634	.004	.1150	.6724	320	9,160	54,560
No. XII. Station 13 — Average for 2 feet ..	.5648 .4316	.008 .008	.1288 .0920	< .6944 .5244	45,200 16,280	640 640	10,320 7,360	56,160 40,560
Station 14 — Average for 2 feet _
No. XII— 7. First foot . ______'	.9816 .7402	.008 trace	.0736 .1104	1.0632 .8506	39,264 29,600	320 trace	2,944 4,400	42,528
Second foot .	34,000

Average and total. ..	.8609	.004	.0920	.9568	68,864	320	7,344	76,528
No. XII— 5. Firstfoot	.1535 .2670	trace trace	.1949 .1870	.3484 .4540	6,140 10,680	trace trace	7,800 7,480	13,940 18,160
Second foot..

Average and total.. .	.2103	trace	.1909	.4012	16,820	trace	15,280	32,100
No. XII— 1. Firstfoot	.3193 .3416	trace trace	.2227 .2320	.5420 .5736	12,760 13,680	trace trace	8,920 9,280	21,680
Second foot . _ __ _	23,960

Average and total. __	.3304	trace	.2274	.5578	26,440	trace	18,200	45,640

Discussion. — This spot is an especially good illustration of the limits of alkali tolerance by the sugar beet on account of the clear line of demar- cation between good and poor beets under otherwise uniform conditions. That the beet will tolerate a large total alkali, provided the preponder- ance of the salts present is in the form of sulfates, is clearly shown in the curves shown in Fig. 16, the total at station 7 being nearly 1 per cent, 0.86 of which is composed of sulfates. Under these conditions the field was producing beets of at least fair size, of good sugar-content, and of good form. These beets continued as far as station 5, when the condition suddenly changed, and small, stunted, scraggly beets, charac- teristic of this and other alkali spots of the same locality, occurred, and

TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI.

25

this notwithstanding the total alkali and sulfates have decreased to .40 per cent and .21 per cent, respectively. Looking for the cause of this stunted condition we note that there has been a rise in chlorid content to approximately .20 per cent at the spot where the beets become markedly poor. Further, we note that the condition remains the same so long as the chlorid content of the soil remains above .20 per cent?

0 )0

i

r

4

_£

%

I

\fl(Kt

4P>

fxta

F

^onr

l^p.i

*f,sS

_&_oad

_Eteet<i.

.60 SO 40

r

m 8

1

v=-

Ss

o

\

» \

It

4

/

V4

■^"^

"*/!

9 />

A>0

i

:hjd

;0,

JO 1

1

Fig. 16. Alkali curve for Field XII.

Fig. 17. Beets from Field XII.

but upon falling below this point at station 4 the beets at once improve and become of normal form, size, etc. (witness Fig. 17, XII, 6, 13, and 14), notwithstanding the sulfates have increased from .32 per cent at 4 to .56 per cent at 6.

From this examination it would appear that on a sandy loam soil, under proper conditions of culture, we may expect beets to thrive when the total alkali reaches as high as 1 per cent, provided the chlorids do

26

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION.

not exceed .20 per cent. Had the sulfates remained as high as '.85 per <cent, and the chlorids increased as shown, it is probable that the area of good beets would have been lessened, and the limit of chlorids been somewhere from .15 to .20 per cent. The effect of the sulfates appears to be very mild, however, as at station 5 with sulfates as low as .21 per €ent the chlorid limit is .19 per cent, and it is essentially the same at station 4, where the sulfates have risen to .32 per cent, or more than doubled. It would be difficult to find a case in which the effect of the chlorids is more clearly shown than here, the indication being that in the absence of carbonates, chlorids are the governing factor and must he below .20 per cent if we would expect success in the production of beets.

FIELDS I AND II, OXNARD.

The attention of the writer was called to two different fields in the same general region. It was said by those familiar with the conditions covering several years, that on No. I it was impossible to bring a crop of beets to maturity, even though under very favorable conditions a stand might be secured. Barley had also failed upon this soil, although the seed had germinated and the plants lived for a short time. On Field No. II there had been some difficulty in securing a stand, but when a, stand was once secured the beets grew very well. A comparison of the two soils does not reveal any great difference in physical character- istics, although No. I may carry a little more clay than No. II, but not enough to make it evident to the eye. A comparison of the soluble salts, however, shows a very strong contrast.

TABLE VI.— Fields Nos. land II, Oxnard.

Depth— 2 ft.

Field No. I Field No. II.

Percentage in Soil.

o

CD ^ ^ P-S £B

!±PiO

D.Sa

£jp GO

.3004 trace .1456 ! none

.3340 .1020

o

SB

.6344 .2476

	Pounds per Acre.
cc	a	o
d	O'CCSS	ccps-
	O O T	h-O H-
SB e-t-	oon din nat	orids dium ilorid
Ui	£B£
	o	^■^
	1 Ooj	i
	, -i SB ; i w	SB
24,000	trace	26,720
11,680	none	8,160

o

7t

SB

50,720 19,840

While it does not appear as to why there should be difficulty in secur- ing a reasonable stand upon this field, if we accept the evidence previ- ously presented as to the apparent limits of chlorids, we certainly find a satisfactory answer as to why the crop does not succeed upon Field No. I, on which the chlorids are a third higher than the limiting num- ber on the locations already discussed. Further, the results add still stronger evidence for the contention that it is unsafe to attempt to grow

TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI.

27

Fig. 18. Good beets from Field IV.

sugar beets upon land carrying .20 per cent or over of common salt, and on soils carrying even .15 per cent there will be great uncertainty of a crop, unless other conditions are very perfect.

The fact that these results were obtained on these soils under the con- ditions existing this year is not necessarily conclu- sive that the same soils under some- what different con- ditions of treat- ment or seasonal moisture might not produce good beets over their entire area; but it is suggestive that a knowl- edge of the conditions pre- vious to planting upon a soil might save considerable ex- pense to both the farmer and the company. With the rapid methods of analysis which can now be employed in making approximate de- terminations of the alkali in soils over considerable areas, there would appear no reason for continuing to plant beets upon soils entirely unsuited, or even precarious for the crop. It is usually true that there are but comparatively few fields so affected with alkali as to make them un- certain for crops from this standpoint, and these doubt-

.,«■;, -, t •! -, . Fig. 19. Good beets from Field X.

ml fields could easily be in- vestigated from the standpoint of their soluble salts and planting done in accordance with the results obtained by such examination. It

28

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION.

suggests a closer attention to the field of agricultural chemistry by the sugar companies operating in the arid regions especially. The writer believes that far too great attention is paid to the factory side of the sugar industry as compared with the agricultural, and that the highest results can never be attained, especially in the arid region, until rational attention be given to agricultural chemistry in connection with the field operations.

Good Beets Frequently Grow in Strong Alkali Soil. — One who has had experience in beet fields affected with alkali is soon impressed with the fact that there seems to be individual beets much more alkali resistant than those immediately surrounding. Here and there one finds indi- vidual beets, in the midst of other beets badly "alkalied," making a strong and healthy growth and carrying a good per cent of sugar and purity, and maintaining a good form of the beet, viz., a long, straight and symmetrical root. That such a form is unusual for beets grown under these conditions, is clearly shown in the illustrations of beets taken as typical of the alkalied fields here studied.

Below is shown the alkali-content, to a depth of two feet, of the exact spot in which these beets were growing, and also the sugar-content of the beet in each case.

TABLE VII.

	Percentage in Soil.	Pounds per Acre.
Depth— 2 ft.	GO 0 P 11 co	Carbonates (as Sodium Car- bonate)	Chlorids (as Sodium Chlorid)..-.	o p > P —	cc p" a> co	Carbonates (as Sodium Car- bonate)	Chlorids (as Sodium Chlorid)..*..	o c-t- p > P
IV— 1	.1536 .2986 .0920	trace .0097 .0042	.0920 .1277 .1278	.2456 .4360 .2240	12,320 23,840 7,360	trace 800 320	7,360 10,240 10,240	19,680 34,880 17,920
IV— 3 IV— 4

Other illustrations of the same thing are shown in the following table, the beets from which are shown in Fig. 19:

TABLE VIII.

	Percentage in Soil.	Pounds per Acre.
Depth.	pi — p CO	Carbonates (as Sodium Car- bonate)	Chlorids (as Sodium Chlorid)	i-3 o P P	CO pi 1 — I p r+ <D CO 1	Carbonates (as Sodium Car- bonate)	Chlorids (as Sodium Chlorid)	o P > P .-• t
X— 5. First foot Second foot	.0688 .0511	.0025 .0050	.0326 .1118	.1039 .1679	2,760 2,040 4,800	120 200	1,320 4,480	4,200 6,720
		.0722
Average and total- ._	.0600	.0037	.1359	320	5,800	10,920

TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI.

29

The occurrence of so typical beets growing under such adverse con- ditions, and the development of the beet to such a high state by the process of continued selection, suggests the possibility of producing by the same methods a type of beet which shall be much more alkali resistant than those now being grown in this country, the seed of which has been produced under the very best of conditions in alkali-free soil in Europe. Such a beet would meet a need which is now very apparent in the irrigated regions of America, and would be a decided factor in aiding to place the agricultural side of the industry on a firmer footing

Fig. 20. Selected beets from strong alkali soils.

than is now the case. The most difficult thing now appears to be to induce the farmer to so conduct his agricultural operations, especially as to the selection and preparation of the soil, as to secure such a yield per acre as to make the industry continually inviting, and in those regions where alkali is prevalent in the soil it is one of the greatest obsta- cles to overcome. Further, the development of a more alkali-resistant beet would make it possible to considerably extend the area now avail- able, and bring under cultivation to a generally profitable yield a large amount of land for which it is now difficult to find satisfactory crops.

Note. — It is desired hereby to express thanks to the American Beet Sugar Company, who assisted in this work by allowing the use of their laboratory; to Mr. C. L. Colvin, chemist of the above-named company, for courtesies received; and also to Mr. Frank D. Merrill, who assisted in certain of the analytical work.

CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION.

REPORTS.

1896. Report of the Viticultural Work during the seasons 1887-93, with data

regarding the Vintages of 1894-95.

1897. Resistant Vines, their Selection, Adaptation, and Grafting. Appendix to

Viticultural Report for 1896.

1898. Partial Report of Work of Agricultural Experiment Station for the years

1895-96 and 1896-97. 1900. Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station for the year 1897-98.

1902. Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station for 1898-1901.

1903. Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station for 1901-1903.

1904. Twenty-second Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station for 1903-1904.

BULLETINS.

Reprint. Endurance of Drought in Soils of the Arid Region.

No. 129. Report of the Condition of Olive Culture in California.

•131. The Phylloxera of the Vine.

132. Feeding of Farm Animals.

133. Tolerance of Alkali by Various Cultures. 135. The Potato- Worm in California.

137. Pickling Ripe and Green Olives.

138. Citrus Fruit Culture.

139. Orange and Lemon Rot.

140. Lands of the Colorado Delta in Salton Basin, and Supplement.

141. Deciduous Fruits at Paso Robles.

142. Grasshoppers in California.

143. California Peach-Tree Borer.

144. The Peach-Worm.

145. The Red Spider of Citrus Trees.

146. New Methods of Grafting and Budding Vines.

147. Culture Work of the Substations.

148. Resistant Vines and their Hybrids.

149. California Sugar Industry.

150. The Value of Oak Leaves for Forage.

151. Arsenical Insecticides.

152. Fumigation Dosage.

153. Spraying with Distillates.

154. Sulfur Sprays for Red Spider.

155. Directions for Spraying for the Codling-Moth.

156. Fowl Cholera.

157. Commercial Fertilizers.

158. California Olive Oil ; its Manufacture.

159. Contribution to the Study of Fermentation.

160. The Hop Aphis.

161. Tuberculosis in Fowls.

162. Commercial Fertilizers.

163. Pear Scab.

164. Poultry Feeding and Proprietary Foods.

165. Asparagus and Asparagus Rust in California.

166. Spraying for Scale Insects.

167. Manufacture of Dry Wines in Hot Countries.

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168. Observations on Some Vine Diseases.

CIRCULARS.

No. 1. Texas Fever. No. 10. Reading Course in Economic

2. Blackleg. Entomology.

3. Hog Cholera. 11. Fumigation Practice.

4. Anthrax. 12. Silk Culture.

5. Contagious Abortion in Cows. 13. The Culture of the Sugar Beet.

6. Methods of Physical and Chem- 14. Practical Suggestions for Cod-

ical Soil Analysis. ling-Moth Control in the

7. Remedies for Insects. Pajaro Valley. 9. Asparagus Rust.

Copies may be had by application to the Director of the Experiment Station, Berkeley, California.