190 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTL K K. 



There seems to be no rule nor conclusion relative to the sugar content of the beets 

 as determined by these results. Tins is further proof of the perfect safety of using a 

 number of dates for planting. The special advantage of planting at various periods is 

 due to the fact that there is a longer period allowed for thinning the beets, and a more 

 general distribution throughout the season of the work of caring for the crop. The early 

 plantings are of advantage because they permit of getting the thinning done before the 

 press of other work demands the time of the farm labor. It also allows the tops to get 

 sufficient growth to completely mulch the ground before the weeds make their appear- 

 ance, thereby diminishing the work necessary to keep the ground clean. The cut shown 

 on page 188 is from a photograph taken on June 18, 1901, of the April 13 and 24 

 plantings showing the ground completely covered by the beet leaves. It will be 

 observed that plantings as late as May 20 which will be ready for thinning by the 20th 

 of June might seriously interfere with the busy haying season. Contrary to our 

 expectations the earlier planted beets have given no indications of earlier maturity. 

 As will be seen by the final average each year except one, the May S planting has given 

 the highest percentage of sugar. 



TRIALS WITH DIFFERENT SPACINGS OF ROWS. 



In College Farm field No. 12, where a test of fertilizers was being made on four differ- 

 ent one-acre plots, the chance to experiment with different spacings of rows was also 

 utilized. On each of the four acres, one strip 12 feet wide (six rows) was sown to 24- 

 inch rows, another 14 feet wide (8 rows) to 21-inch rows, and another 18 feet wide (12 

 rows) to 18-inch rows. The one-acre plots were 44 feet wide and 990 feet long. The 

 results are given in the following table, showing the computed yields per acre, the per 

 cents of sugar, the total yield of sugar, and the money value of the crop per acre from 

 each method of sowing. 



Table showing yields per acre and per cent of sugar from four scries of plots with rows 

 spaced 24 in., 21 in., and IS in. respectively, and averages of the same. 



From the figures at the bottom of the table the difference in the pounds of sugar 

 produced per acre from the 24 and 21-inch rows is practically nothing. While the 18- 

 inch rows give a yield of nearly 200 pounds of sugar more per acre than either of the 

 other spacings. In thinning these beets the instructions to the thinners were to leave 

 the 24-inch rows with six-inch spacings, the 21-inch rows with seven-inch spacings, 

 and the 18-inch rows with eight-inch spacings. This method afforded practically one 

 square foot of ground for each beet. The uniform results in per cent of sugar indicate 



