198 Keport of the Chemist of the 



7. Size of Beets. ^ 



Large beets are inferior for sugar production. The size yield- 

 ing most sugar weighs from one to two pounds, though factories 

 do not usually reject beets weighing as much as three pounds. 

 The beets which have come under our observation have varied in 

 weight from seven ounces to three pounds and twelve ounces, the 

 average being a fraction of an ounce over one pound. 



8. Time of Planting and Harvesting. 



The main consideration to be kept in mind in this State in 

 respect to time of planting sugar beets, is to allow sufficient time 

 for complete maturing. Taking our seasons as they average, the 

 planting can usually be done in May. In planting later than June 

 1, much risk is incurred in reference to the proper ripening of the 

 crop. ' , 



Before harvesting, the beets should ripen completely, since im- 

 mature beets contain less isugar than the ripe ones. At maturity 

 the leaves turn yellowish green and the outer ones bend down 

 about the beet. It requires about 150 days for a crop to develop 

 its highest sugar content, varying, of course, with the character 

 of the season. Harvesting must take place before the second 

 growth commences, since this decreases the amount of sugar. 



II. PURITY OF SOLIDS IN JUICE. 



While the percentage of sugar contained in a beet is highly 

 imi>ortant, it is not the only factor that determines the quality of 

 the beet. The purity of the solids in the sugar-beet juice must be 

 considered also. Beet juice contains besides sugar other sub- 

 stances in soliution. To illustrate, the juice of a certain sample of 

 sugar beets contains 12.8 per cent of sugar and 18.2 per cent of 

 total solids, including sugar and other materials. This leaves 5.4 

 per cent of solids not sugar. Having the per cent of sugar and 

 the per cent of total solids, how do we state the purity of the juice? 

 We divide the per cent of sugar (12.8) by the per cent of total 

 solids (18.2) and the product, expressed in parts per hundred, is 

 70; and this we call the "Coefficient of Purity,'' which may be 



