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apart. As it is not the purpose to raise a large beet — from 1 lb. to 2 lb. is a good 

 size for sugar-content — the closer the plants in the row and the nearer together 

 the drills the larger will be the yield to the acre, other things being equal. 



Weeding. — When the weeds appear, if the beets are above ground, this oper- 

 ation should be commenced. A dry day should be selected for the work, which 

 may be done by a hoe or suitable cultivator. 



Thinning. — This may be done when the beets have attained a thickness of about 

 ^ inch. A damp day should be chosen, the roots being be left from 6 to 9 inches apart, 

 according to the richness of the soil. The richer the soil the closer the beets may 

 be left. It is not desirable to raise a very large beet; small beets are the richer in 

 sugar and have purer juice. 



Cultivation.— It is of the utmost importance that the weeds be constantly des- 

 troyed and the soil kept loose. The number of times necessary to go over the ground 

 will depend on the nature of the soil and the season. 



Moreover, it is necessary that the beet should not be allowed to grow above 

 ground ; and consequently, as the summer advances, earthing up will have to be 

 resorted to. In the part of the beet root developed above ground there is very little 

 sugar. In the manufacture of the sugar this portion, if present, is always cut oif 

 and discarded — for not only is it poor in sugar, but it contains an excess of other 

 substances, which makes difficult the extraction of the sugar. Care should be taken 

 not to break off the leaves during the early growth of the plant, for it is by them 

 that the sugar is developed. 



Harvesting. — When the leaves turn yellow the beet is approaching maturity. 

 Although it is desirable to leave the beets in the ground as long as possible, they 

 should be pulled before the first heavy frost, as such would materially lower the 

 percentage of sugar. 



K not intended at once for the factory they may be kept in a pit. 



Secondary Advantages of Sugar-beet Culture. 



The indirect benefits to be derived from the sugar-beet culture are not few, 

 and chief among them is the improvement of the soil. 



The thorough state of cultivation necessary for the profitable growth of sugar- 

 beets vastly increases the soil's fertility for succeediug crops. Land in a perfectly 

 clean condition, with a proper mechanical texture, and rich in plant food, is the 

 result. 



The pulp from the sugar-beet factory has been largely used as a fodder. Accord- 

 ing to the richness of the beets and the process by which the sugar is extracted its 

 composition and value varies. As part of a ration for milch cows it is highly spoken 

 of, causing an increased flow of milk without lowering its quality. With straw, 

 hay and a small quantity of oil cake an excellent ration may be prepared. Pulp 

 has been successfully preserved as ensilage, in which condition it is much relished 

 by cattle. In feeding beet pulp the mineral fertilizing elements withdrawn by the 

 growing crop are for the most part returned to the soil. 



MILK. 



In order to obtain data that could be used as a basis for future reference in con- 

 nection with milk experiments, a large number of analyses of the milk of the 

 thoroughbred cows at the Central Experimental Farm has been made during the 

 past year. 



The analyses comprise 93 samples, and were all made in duplicate — the average 

 of the closely concordant results being given. The milk was from 31 individuals, 

 representing the following breeds : Jersey, Holstein, Ayrshire, Aberdeen, Angus and 

 Shorthorn. Of the Jerseys, there were 5 cows ; of the Holstein, 7 cows ; of the 



