176 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



9-10 EDWARD VII., A*. 1910 

 INFLUENCE OF INHERITED QUALITIES. 



The main points usually considered by the fanner in selecting the varieties of 

 roots — mangels, turnips, carrots — to be grown are yield per acre and keeping quality, 

 and, undoubtedly, these are very important matters. It must not be lost sight of, 

 however, that the nutritive value will depend largely on the percentage of dry matter 

 they contain, and more particularly on the richness of this dry matter in sugar — 

 and that in these particulars varieties are apt to differ considerably. It is true that 

 the character of the season, and more especially of the weather during the period of 

 ripening, has a potent effect on the richness of the root in sugar, but apart from this 

 there is a well marked tendency in roots to transmit to their seed their distinctive 

 qualities as regards dry matter and sugar. This fact, the influence of heredity, has 

 been recognized in the breeding of sugar beets for factory purposes, and, undoubtedly,, 

 might be employed in improving strains of roots for feeding purposes. 



To ascertain how far certain varieties of mangels might maintain their relative 

 position in respect to dry matter and sugar, we selected in 1900 two well known 

 varieties, the Gate Post and Giant Yellow Globe, and have grown them side by side 

 on practically identical soil and under similar treatment since that year. The 

 analytical data of this series, therefore, show the degree to which heredity and varying 

 , seasonal conditions influence the condition of the crops. The Gate Post was chosen 

 as the representative of the richer mangels and the Giant Yellow ^Uobe as typical of 

 the poorer varieties. 



Dry Matter and Sugar in Gate Post and Giant Yellow Globe Mangels. 



The facts set forth in the above table, while showing the influence of season upon 

 the composition of the roots, clearly indicate that each variety has maintained, 

 during the nine years of the experiment, practically the same relationship to the 

 other. The Gate Post has always proven the superior root and it is interesting to 

 note that the difference in its favour in dry matter, approximately' 2 per cent, 

 coincides very closely with the difference in sugar-content. Since sugar is undoubtedly 

 the chief nutrient of value in roots, this result is worthy of note by those who largely 

 grow mangels for feeding purposes. 



SUGAR BEETS FOR FACTORY PURPOSES. 



Further data have been obtained respecting the quality of sugar beets as grown 

 in various parts of the Dominion. The varieties examined comprised Vilmorin's 

 Improved, Klein Wanzleben and Tres Riche, probably the three best sorts for the 

 purposes of the beet sugar factory. 



Since climatic conditions during growth and maturity materially influence the 

 siigar-content of the beet, it might be supposed that considerable differences would be 

 found between roots grown at such widely distant points as the several Experimental 

 Farms. Our results, however, do not show any such differences. There is, indeed, an 



