11. THE STATION EXPERIMENTS WITH SUGAR 



BEETS* 



G. W. CHURCHILL. 



SUMMARY. 



(1) Soil used. The soil was a heavy clay loam, in good condi- 

 tion of fertility and cultivation. 



(2) Planting, cultivation and harvesting. The land was 

 ploughed and subsoiled 14 inches deep on May 7 and 8. Commer- 

 cial fertilizer was applied at the rate of 950 pounds an acre. The 

 surface was given careful preparation and the seed sown on May 

 17 at the rate of 15 pounds an acre. About June 1 the rows of 

 plants were distinguishable and a hand cultivator was run 

 through them, which was soon followed by hoeing and partial 

 thinning. On June 15 a horse cultivator was used and the final 

 thinning commenced. This was followed by two more cultiva- 

 tions. Harvesting began September 22. 



(3) Cost of crop. On a basis of wages commonly paid for labor, 

 the cost amounted to ^75.80 an acre; on a basis of cheaper labor, 

 the cost was 154.30. 



(4) Yield. The yield was 32,548 pounds an acre or about 16^ 

 tons. For 1,000 pounds of beets, the loss of weight caused by cut- 

 ting off the crowns was 73 pounds; and the loss of weight caused 

 by washing off the dirt was 49 pounds. This would make a yield 

 of marketable beets equal to 15.1 tons an acre. 



(5) Size and composition. The average weight was 12 ounce-i. 

 The beets contained 15.2 per cent sugar, equivalent to 16 per cent 

 sugar in juice, having a coefficient of purity equal to 81. 



(6) Influence of fertilizer. The yield was increased about 6 

 tons an acre bv the use of fertilizer. 



•Partial reprint of Bulletin No. 135. 



