REPORT OF TEE CHEMIST. 



181 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



On arrival of the beets at the farm laboratories, it was found that they had dried 

 out considerably, and consequently would show a higher percentage of sugar than 

 present when dug. Of course, it was impossible to ascertain the degree to which con- 

 centijation of the juioe had taken place. Our results are as follows: — 



Locality. 



Magrath 



Stirling ... 



Number of 



roots 

 in Sample. 



Percentage 

 of Sugar 

 in Juice. 



1.5 19 

 17 -32 



Percentage 

 of Solids 

 in Juice. 



21 02 



22 12 



Coefficient 



of 



Puritv. 



72-26 

 78-3 



Average 

 Weight of 

 one Root. 



Lbs. 

 1 



Oz. 



9 



11 



Though undoubtedly the above percentages are exceedingly good, especially when 

 we remember that the roots were grown on sod, I do not thii'ls; it would be safe to 

 consider them as necessarily indicating that the Lethbridge district would always 

 yield beets with a high sugar content. The fact, already referred to, of the drying 

 out of the beets and the small number examined make it desirable that further data 

 be obtained before final conclusions are drawn. 



PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 



The question of the possibility of growing in Prince Edward Island beets rich 

 enough to make sugar extraction profitable having recently received considerable 

 attention in that province, we have analysed, at the instance of Mr. A. Callaghan, 

 Charlottetown, a number of roots raised there at various points during the past 

 season. 



The information furnished respecting them is very meagre and simply states 

 that ' the seed was sown in the middle of June and the crop was harvested November 

 10. The drills were 18 inches apart, and the beets about 6 inches apart in the drill.' 

 In all, 18 roots were sent. Table IV. sets forth our analytical and other data : 



Table IV. — Analyses ot Sugar Beets from Prince Edward Island, 1900. 



The foregoing results show that these beets are for the most part rich in saccha- 

 rine matter; indeed, they compare verj^ favourably with those grown for sugar 

 manufacture in Europe and the United States. Judging from the sugar content and 

 degree of purity, I am of the opinion the averages obtained indicate that a beet suit- 

 able for profitable sugar extraction can be grown in Prince Edward Island. The 

 amount of work done in this investigation is not sufficient, however, to allow us to 

 Bpeak definitely or decisively as to the success of the industry, if it were established. 



The roots in sample * A ' had not been properly earthed, and, as a result, their 

 percentage of sugar was lower than in the other samples. From the appearance of 



