Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., February 12, 1898. 

 The Honorable Commissioner of Agriculture, Albany, N. Y. 



Sir : This account of the investigations carried on throughout the state 

 and at Ithaca in the cultivation of the sugar beet, together with the results 

 of more than four hundred nnalyses of beets from nearly as many plats, is 

 submitted for publication under Chapter 128 of the Laws of 1897. 



in the spring of 1893, seventy packages of sugar beet seed were sent to 

 as many farmers with the view of making a preliminary test of soil and 

 climate in various parts of the state. By this means it was hoped that 

 some information might be secured which would be of value should the 

 culture of sugar beets be introduced. Thirty-one farmers who received 

 the seed responded by sending samples of beets for analyses, and some 

 data as to yield, growth and soil. 



The average weight of beets sent for analyses was 830 grammes, and 

 the average per cent, of sugar 12.9. The typical sugar beet should weigh 

 about 600 grammes and contain not less than 14 per cent, of sugar. Not- 

 withstanding the large size of the beets, due without doubt to too thin 

 seeding, the sugar content was equal to the average of many European 

 sugar beet districts. It should be stated that many of these test plats of 

 beets were in localities where the soil was not well adapted to their growth. 



In 1894 another attempt was made to carry forward the work, but there 

 was so little interest in beet culture it was decided to temporarily drop the 

 work. 



During the winter of 1896-97 the subject of sugar beet culture was 

 again brought up and discussed, and it was decided to resume our investi- 

 gations. The Department of Agriculture, at Washington, gave its hearty 

 support to the work and sent to the Station five hundred pounds of 

 Kleinwanzlebener beet seed and appointed the Director of the Station 

 special agent in sugar beet investigation. 



We found the farmers ready to undertake the work of testing the soil 

 and climate by planting small plats of beets, and to follow the printed 

 instructions which were sent with the seed. Some public spirited farmers 

 bought, and in some cases distributed to their neighbors, packages of 

 seeds. The beets from these plats, when sent to us, were also analyzed. 

 While some data as to soil and tillage accompanied these beets, the infor- 

 mation secured could not be as accurate as was that secured bv members 

 of our staff who visited the plats under our control and helped to harvest 

 the beets, measure the land and select samples for analyses. 



This bulletin, which has cost so much thought and labor, is written in 

 two parts: Part I. treats of soils, tillage and character of beets ; Part II. 

 gives somewhat in detail the results of the analyses of beets and some of 

 the by-products of the factory, together with notes related thereto. 



It is not the purpose to express any opinion as to the wisdom of encour- 

 aging the sugar industry in this state by granting a small bounty to the 

 producers of beets. But if it is deemed wise to grant such bounty, it 

 should be based on the per cent, of sugar which the beets are found to 

 contain when delivered at the factory, thereby securing a double benefit — 

 increase in production and improvement of equality. A competent chemist 

 for each factory should be appointed by the state to determine the per 

 cent, of sugar of each consignment of beets, and his report to his superiors 

 should be final. 



I. P. Roberts, Director. 



