Sugar Beet Investigations for 1898. 427 



quality of beets, and it is gratifying to note that the quality is 

 maintained well above the minimum requirement for profitable 

 manufacture. 



Yield of beets per acre m i8g8. — The number of reports received 

 from farmers giving definite data in regard to yield per acre and 

 the cost of growing the crop is very much smaller than was antic- 

 ipated. From various causes, as explained elsewhere, they had 

 at some time in the season lost track of the data and then the 

 records were abandoned. Of the reports received forty-four give 

 carefull}' ascertained yields from areas of one-fourth acre and 

 upward, very few of them being less than one-half acre. From 

 an examination of these forty-four reports the following is 



obtained : 



Six report yields of less than 9 tons per acre. 

 Ten report yields of 9 or over but less than 1 1 tons per acre. 

 Four report yields of ii or over, but less than 13 tons per acre. 

 Thirteen report yields of 13 or over, but less than 15 tons per acre. 

 Seven report yields of 15 or over, but less than 18 tons per acre. 

 And four report yields of over 18 tons per acre. 



The smallest yield reported is 6.1 tons, the largest, 21.33 tons 

 and the average, 12.98 tons per acre. 



As to the character of the season — whether favorable or 

 unfavorable — many more farmers pronounced it unfavorble 

 than fair. Very wet early, it interferred with timely planting 

 and securing a good stand. This was followed by very dry 

 weather before the beets were thoroughl}^ established and had 

 sent their roots deep into the soil. A severe check to growth 

 was experienced, and the operation of thinning resulted in dam- 

 age to the plants that were left. When the late rains came they 

 were so excessive that in some cases damage resulted. It would 

 seem doubtful, therefore, if the past season should be rated as 

 " fairly favorable." 



From the field book of the Binghamton Beet Sugar Co. is taken 

 the list of farmers appended below. Their names, post offices, 

 area of beets grown and the yield per acre of trimmed beets 

 obtained are given. These crops represent quite a large area, 

 coming from about a dozen counties. Very many farmers did 

 not do as well as these, but the list is so large and the area cov- 

 ered is so wide that it leaves no doubt but that most farmers may 



