Cornell University, Ithaca, Feb. i8, 1899. 



Honorable Commissioner of Agriculture, Albany. 



Sir : — This bulletin, the second on sugar beet culture is published under 

 Chapt. 68 Laws of 1898. 



Part I has been written by Mr. John L. Stone, Part II, by Mr. L. A. 

 Clinton, and Part III, by Mr. G. W. Cavanaugh and Mr. A. L. Knisely. 



Mr. Stone has been in charge of the field experiments in the 15 counties 

 which by mutual agreement between the state station at Geneva and the 

 Commissioner of Agriculture were assigned to the Cornell Station. 



Part I discusses the lessons of 1898 as seen by careful and frequent 

 inspection of the beets in the field. A comparison is made of hilly, stony 

 and level lands with reference to beet culture. Influence of soil on beet 

 production, seeding, depth of planting, early tillage, distance between rows, 

 distance of plants in the row, early and late planting, influence of preced- 

 ing crop are all discussed and conclusions drawn from the facts secured 

 by observing the plants while growing, and by weighing, measuring and 

 analyzing the crop. 



Fungous and insect enemies of the beet are discussed briefly. For a full 

 report of three important fungous diseases of the sugar beet "Root Rot," 

 "Leaf Spot" and " Beet Scab," see Bulletin 163, by B. M. Duggar, which 

 is really a supplemental report of the investigations in beet culture made 

 during the year. 



The lessons learned while present when many fields of beets were being 

 harvested are set forth, and the quality, yield of beets per acre, and the 

 cost per acre of the growing and the cost per ton are fully tabulated. 



The influence of fertilizers on yield and quality and the influence of 

 variety on quantity and quality are fully noted. 



It is found that the farmer himself is the greatest single factor in the 

 profitable production of beets, therefore something has been said along this 

 line. 



Part II contains a brief statement of the investigations conducted on 

 the University farm, and which to be at all reliable required daily personal 

 attention. 



Comparatively small areas were used that the variation of soil conditions 

 might be eliminated so far as possible. 



The land has a well known history for the last five years, and 

 liad been thoroughly mixed by artificial means and then separated 

 into small plats of four by five feet, each plat separated from the others by 

 means of water tight walls which extend to a depth of more than two feet. 



