3IO Bulletin 146. 



In order to obtain as correct information as possible relative to the 

 conditions of soil, fertilizers, culture and atmosphere, a second circular 

 was prepared and distributed during the latter part of September. 

 This circular, besides containing directions for sampling the plats in 

 such a way that estimates of the yield per acre might be determined, 

 contained also a model and blank form for recording all data relative 

 to tillage and fertilizing. 



About 400 of these circulars have been returned ; in general, the 

 data given indicated careful and painstaking work on the part of the 

 experimenters. This mass of data is extremely valuable to the Station 

 as furnishing a basis for future work on the subject of beet culture 

 in New York. All this matter is contained in Bulletin 143. 



Shortly after issuing the circular on sampling the beets, the samples 

 for analysis began to arrive and continued to come in until January, 

 1898. They were, on the whole, carefully packed and showed 

 evidence of a great interest in the subject on the part of the grower. 



Besides analyzing some 475 samples sent in by growers throughout 

 the state, about 125 samples grown on the Station grounds were 

 examined. In addition to the analysis of the beets for their sugar 

 content, studies were made of the food and fertihzing values of some 

 of the by-products of the beets, i. <?., the pulp, lime cake, molasses, as 

 well as the crowns and leaves. It was possible to obtain for this 

 purpose samples of the pulp, lime cake and molasses through the 

 courtesy of the First New York Beet Sugar Company at Rome, 

 N. Y. 



2. FIELD WORK WITH FERTILIZERS (bY A. L. KNISELV). 



During the month of February, 1897, Bulletin No. 129 was issued, 

 giving hints and suggestions about the use of plant foods and explain- 

 ing " How to Conduct Field Experiments with FertiHzers." This 

 bulletin was accompanied by an application blank to be filled out 

 and returned to the Station by any farmer in the state who wished to 

 try a series of field experiments with fertilizers. The fertilizers neces- 

 sary for a single series of experiments were then sent to each applicant, 

 so far as the funds of the Station would allow, with directions for their 

 application. 



